Salaried class will get maximum relief in upcoming budget, claims Dar

WASHINGTON: Finance Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar in a pre-budget discourse apprised media here that salaried class and common man would get maximum relief in the upcoming budget while dispelling considerations of drastic taxes.  

Addressing a news conference, he said that Pakistan was making an impressive headway in financial and digital inclusion by demonstrating a hope that GDP growth over five percent would be achieved during the current fiscal year.

Forecasting a stable economy, Dar expressed confidence to achieve seven percent GDP growth in the country during next fiscal year.

Talking about government’s initiative to establish Pakistan Infrastructure Bank, the finance minister said that the bank would be established with a sixty percent stake of International Monetary Fund (IMF) while stating that Asian Development Bank (ADB) has also expressed its willingness to be part of the initiative.

He told media that the bank would finance private sector for development projects.

DAR MEETINGS

The finance minister also met with various delegates.

In a meeting with Director MCD IMF Jihad Azour and his team in Washington, the finance minister briefed them about the economic reforms undertaken by the government.

“The government is planning to channel private sector investment to infrastructure projects of Pakistan”, Dar said.

Director MCD IMF Jihad Azour said that adhering to reforms process would protect Pakistan’s economy from uncertainty and help the government in achieving higher, sustainable, and inclusive growth rate.

Earlier, talking to US Acting Deputy Secretary of State Tom Shannon in Washington, Ishaq Dar said the government was conducting security operations with the unwavering belief that ridding the society of terrorists and extremists is in Pakistan’s national interest.

Tom Shannon conveyed to the Finance Minister the Trump Administration’s commitment to engage Pakistan for a broad based bilateral relationship and to partner with Pakistan to achieve regional peace and security in South Asia.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also held a meeting with the US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster in Washington. They discussed bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest in the meeting.

The finance minister apprised McMaster the government’s measures for economic reforms and said international institutions have lauded Pakistan’s economic reforms program.

Speaking on the occasion, US National Security Advisor said that his country acknowledges Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war on terror. He said the US and Pakistan are working together for peace in Afghanistan and in the region.