ISLAMABAD, April 5: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has directed Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz to ensure that the next budget is growth and investment-oriented in order to improve people's standard of living.
Talking to the minister during a meeting at the Prime Minister's Secretariat on Monday, according to an official press release, he directed that outlay of the Public Sector Development Programme should be increased.
In this connection, a meeting of the National Economic Council would be convened before the budget. It would particularly emphasize identification of infrastructure development projects as priority sectors, e.g., water, communication, health and education.
The prime minister said it was imperative to improve infrastructure in order to keep abreast of the needs of a growing economy and there was the need to ensure that water, roads, railways, ports and electricity were available in an efficient manner at comparative prices.
"In today's age of globalisation, we need to improve our competitiveness so that our agriculture, industrial and commercial sectors are able to compete effectively and expand their business activities to achieve the vision of a stronger and economically viable Pakistan," he stressed.
The finance minister informed the prime minister that he was in constant touch with representatives of agriculture, trade, industry, civil society, chambers, industrial associations and provinces so that their views were reflected in the forthcoming budget.
The secretary, finance, and principal secretary to the prime minister were also present during the meeting.
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES: Prime Minister Jamali on Monday urged the elected representatives to spearhead the development process in the country and identify infrastructure development schemes to benefit the maximum number of persons in the population, adds APP.
He urged them to devote their energies to redressing public grievances, particularly with reference to the provision of utilities. Jamali was talking to a delegation of MNAs who called on him at Prime Minister's Secretariat. They included Riaz Pirzada, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Rashid Niwani, Aslam Amin and Asjad Malhi.
The prime minister renewed the commitment that due importance shall be given to development schemes identified by public representatives and added that an equal amount of development funds are being allocated to members from the Treasury and Opposition.
He advised them to judiciously utilize the development funds that should benefit the maximum population, bring economic development and create job opportunities.
The elected representatives welcomed the steps taken by the present government to strengthen the democratic process in the country and reposed full confidence in the leadership of the prime minister.
They discussed development schemes such as rural electrification, roads infrastructure, provision of gas and telephone to their respective constituencies.
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