Govt taking steps to strengthen economy: Atta Tarar

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday that the incumbent government was taking all possible measures to strengthen the national economy and both the economy and industry were showing positive signs.

In a press conference at the PMLN’s Secretariat, he that Bloomberg stated it clearly that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had a good experience of talking to financial institutions and bringing economic reforms, the official news agency reported.

“The previous 16-month government saved the country from default and helped stablise the Pakistani rupee and even during the tenure of the interim government the rupee remained stable. The stability of the rupee helped stabilise the country’s economy and positive news were coming with regard to the stock exchange as well,” he said.

He said all these positive indicators were showing that business confidence had increased in the country. He said it was very unfortunate that anti-state elements which could not digest the country’s progress were stuck to their negative agenda.

“Chinese engineers were attacked in Dasu and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Dasu and met Chinese engineers and expressed grief over the incident besides offering condolences,” he added.

He said that Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain went to Wuhan, China, on a special flight that carried mortal remains of five Chinese personnel who had died in the terror attack and expressed condolences with the Chinese government and officials.

He said that the PMLN government had always given importance to the Pak-China friendship.

“After the incident, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the Chinese Embassy and met the Chinese ambassador. The premier also visited Dasu to boost the morale of the Chinese engineers and give a message that Pakistan gives high importance to its friendship with China,” the minister said.

Tarar said that the prime minister had presided over many meetings on Chinese security and a committee was formed for an inquiry into the Dasu incident. He said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered action against RPO Hazara division, DPO Upper Kohsitan district, DPO Lower Kohistan district, Dasu Hydropower Project security director and KP Special Security Unit commandant in 15 days.

The information minister said that the quick action was a proof that no compromise would be tolerated on the security of the Chinese in future. He further said that Prime Minister Shehbaz was personally supervising security matters pertaining to Chinese projects and the Chinese and an effective system was being evolved in this regard. “We pay homage to all those who sacrificed their lives in war against terrorism.”

He said that armed forces and law enforcement agencies of the country were determined to root out terrorism and would not allow anybody to harm the country’s peace.

Regarding a ‘The Guardian’ report on extrajudicial killings by India in different countries, Tarar said that the Foreign Office had also issued a statement on Saturday in which not only it rejected the statement of the Indian defence minister but also condemned it.

He said that the international community should also take notice of the extrajudicial killings.

“Pakistan is fully alert and capable of defending itself but we want peace in the region.”