Islamabad:Prime Minister Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif has set a target to increase the country’s exports to $60 billion annually over the next 3 years, expressing satisfaction that national revenues exceeded $30 billion in the previous fiscal year.
According to a statement issued by the Press Information Department (PID), Prime Minister Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif, while presiding over a meeting of the National Revenue Board in Islamabad, highlighted that due to government policies, information technology exports have exceeded $3.2 billion, which is a promising development. Issues identified by revenue generators will be resolved within the next 2 weeks, and he will personally chair the meetings of the National Revenue Board every month and a half.
The Prime Minister said that everyone must work hard for Pakistan’s progress. Despite difficult circumstances, he saluted businessmen and investors who played their role in increasing Pakistan’s revenues. He directed the Ministry of Commerce to finalize policy recommendations in collaboration with representatives of sectors contributing to revenue.
He emphasized working with provincial departments for further enhancement in agricultural revenues through betterment of extension services, processing of standard seeds and agricultural species to ensure certainty in their yield, and accelerating efforts to introduce high-yielding agricultural varieties.
The Prime Minister instructed immediate resolution of issues related to shipping of goods to Europe and America and ensured cooperation with China in transferring Chinese industries to Pakistan through the Board of Investment and developing research and development, innovation, and brand development for increasing imports and establishing their unique identity.
He stated that there will be no delay in refunds for revenue generators from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Trade officers in Pakistani embassies worldwide will guide Pakistan’s exports and revenue generators.
He said that the Ministry of Power should present a comprehensive plan to reduce electricity costs for industries. Private sectors play a key role in the development of any country. They should be made part of the policy formation process to address issues faced by the private sector.
Participants from revenue industries in the meeting extended appreciation to the Prime Minister for his sequential meetings for the solution of issues and expressed special interest for the Prime Minister’s revenue sector. Revenue generators also praised timely refunds from the FBR on behalf of the Prime Minister.
In the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Javed Kamal Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema, Qaisar Ahmed Sheikh, Abdul Aleem Khan, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Orangzeb, Sardar Ovais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Dr. Musadik Malik, Federal Ministers Ali Parvez Malik, Shezra Fatima Khwaja, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Jehanzeb Khan, Governor State Bank, Prime Minister’s Coordinator Rana Ehsan Azim Chairman FBR, relevant officers, and a large number of representatives from various sectors including textile, information technology, leadership, and agriculture-related revenue generators participated.
