DUBAI, Feb 10 (Alliance News): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated on Monday that Pakistan had achieved macroeconomic stability over the past year with the support of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
Addressing Pakistani business leaders and investors in Dubai, he highlighted improvements in key economic indicators, including a 2.4 percent inflation rate in January and a bank policy rate of 12 percent.
The prime minister noted that exports had increased compared to the previous year, while foreign remittances had reached a record $3 billion.
He acknowledged the country’s ongoing economic challenges but affirmed that the government was taking the right steps to ensure growth, focusing on key sectors such as mining and minerals.
Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the importance of Pakistan’s collaboration with the UAE and Saudi Arabia in extracting its vast mineral resources, lamenting the lack of progress in the mining sector despite its trillion-dollar potential.
He also underscored the significance of the IT sector, calling for better training programs for the country’s youth, as 60 percent of Pakistan’s population falls within the 15-30 age group.
Discussing agriculture, the prime minister pointed out Pakistan’s lag in per-acre yield despite its vast resources.
He announced a government initiative to send 1,000 fresh agriculture graduates to China for specialized training, expecting them to contribute to modernizing the country’s farming techniques and boosting production upon their return.
Shehbaz Sharif stressed the need for value addition in agriculture and called for teamwork and commitment to transform Pakistan’s economic landscape. He assured business leaders that their recommendations would be incorporated into the government’s economic strategy.
