Pakistan heading towards sustainable growth: official

LAHORE: The present government under the able leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan has dedicated special attention to augment the agriculture sector in the country, an official said.

Talking to newsmen along with Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister on Information Hasaan Khawar, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib regretted that the previous governments had badly neglected the agriculture sector.

However, the credit goes to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for giving unprecedented subsidies to promote agriculture in the country, he said.

The state minister said the present government not only focused on uplifting agriculture, but increasing exports, as well.

He said the far-sighted policies of the government resulted in increased yields of major crops, adding that sugarcane crop yield increased 25 per cent, rice up to 18 per cent, while yield of cotton crop increased 60 per cent.

The sugar price would be reduced with the start of the sugarcane crushing season, he said, adding that the price of urea/bag was between Rs1,700 and Rs1,800, adding that the subsidy on gas was also being provided.

The country is self-sufficient in urea and farmers are getting it at lower price, compared to other countries, Habib said.

The opposition, while commenting on the country’s economic situation, must recall the PML-N’s tenure when the exports were at $24 billion, while the current account deficit was $20 billion, he said, adding that the remittances at that time were at $18 billion.

Habib said that the last year the country’s exports were at $25.4 billion and if services were added in it, the figure would touch the mark of $31 billion.

At present, the country’s remittances stood at $29.5 billion. During the last three months, the country’s remittances were at $8 billion, exports at $7 billion and in August, large-scale manufacturing increased 12.5 per cent.

About tax collection, Habib said: “It was more than our expectations.” The figures reveal that not only the country’s foreign remittances increased but the textile exports also went up 28 per cent.

Pakistan’s economic indicators were improving and the country was heading towards sustainable growth, he added.

About the price hike, the state minister said it is “an international phenomenon” and the country was also facing its impact. The petroleum prices in the country were less, compared with other countries.

However, he highlighted that Prime Minister Imran Khan would soon launch a “Food Support Programme”, under which subsidised food ration would be provided.

To a question, he said, the opposition had nothing to do with the welfare of the people, adding that they were raising hue and cry just for their personal gains.

He called the opposition “politically jobless”, saying they were trying to hoodwink the people.

Habib said that the prime minister has directed stern action against hoarders and illegal profiteers.

Health Cards were provided to the entire population of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, he said, adding that soon the people of Punjab would also be able to avail health Card facility.