NUZHAT NAZAR

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that all indicators of the economy are on positive trajectory despite protests of opposition parties, and also assigned targets to various ministries for the next three months. Briefing media persons on cabinet meeting here on Tuesday, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the Prime Minister gave a roadmap to various departments and ministries of their targets for the next three months. He gave directions to all ministries to take maximum efforts to complete public sector development programs of their ministry for next quarter, she added

The Prime Minister further directed to work on job creation and parallel empowerment strategies for youth of the country. The Prime Minister said he will himself monitor the progress so that decisions are made on time and red-tapism is avoided. The Prime Minister will have a meeting with all federal secretaries after the cabinet meeting.

The special assistant said reform agenda of the incumbent government is being resisted by status quo people who do not want change in the system. The Prime Minister reassured the cabinet that the government will not back away from reforms agenda as it is agenda for the development and progress of Pakistan. The government wants to transform challenges into opportunities.

Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar told the cabinet that economic indicators have witnessed improvements and economy is moving in right direction. Foreign investment has increased in the country and stock market is stabilizing. Ease of doing business ranking has also witnessed significant improvements, she said.

She said the cabinet approved the waiver of passport and fee requirement for pilgrims of Kartarpur Corridor. She said visa-on-arrival facility will be given to Sikh pilgrims, doing away the other requirements.

Advisor to Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain apprised the cabinet of new local government system.

The cabinet also accorded approval to appointment of DG Rangers Punjab.

Earlier, a meeting of the federal cabinet was held with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair. It discussed overall economic and political situation of the country with particular reference to the ‘Azadi March’ of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl.

Advisor to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate a three-day Asia Regional Conference on Climate Change in Islamabad on Wednesday (today). The adviser said the conference will also discuss the issue of increasing environmental pollution and how to overcome it.