Sharafat Kazmi Islamabad
Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) to present a roadmap envisaging short, medium and long-term measures for economic stability and sustainable growth.
The prime minister issued these directions while chairing a meeting of the Economic Advisory Council via video link on Thursday.
The prime minister said the aim of the roadmap should be to further organise important sectors of the economy including energy, construction, agriculture, tourism, social protection, subsidies, small and medium enterprises, remittances and public private partnership besides bringing stability to prices.
The prime minister said instead of imposing more taxes on the people, out of box solutions should be suggested to provide relief to them.
He said reforms in the tax system and simplifying it is the priority of the government.
Imran Khan said the EAC has been established to take advantage of the inputs of prominent economic experts in order to put the economy on strong footing.
The prime minister said that as a result of the government’s steps, the business environment has improved and the confidence of entrepreneurs stands restored.
He said it has remained endeavour of the government to not only frame policies in consultations with the business community but also ensure their continuation.
The prime minister said that the government’s measures have improved the business environment, besides boosting investor confidence.
“We are eyeing to devise economic strategies in consultation with the business sector in order to ensure their sustainability,” Imran Khan said adding that reforms in the tax system to further simplify it are among the top priorities of the government.
On April 03, the PM restructured the Economic Advisory Council, inducting members from public and private sectors. The advisory council would be headed by the prime minister himself while the finance minister would act as its vice-chairman.
In the absence of the prime minister, the finance minister would head the meeting of the economic advisory council. The EAC would have an advisory and capacity enhancement relationship with the government of Pakistan.
