ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb has reiterated that the government’s resolve to carry on with broad-based reforms on energy, taxation, and SOE fronts.
He expressed these remarks during a meeting with US Ambassador Donald Blome, who called on him in Islamabad on Thursday. The Finance Minister stated that the government is committed to increase the country’s tax to GDP ratio to 13.5 % by plugging leakages and bringing untaxed fields in the net.
He added that the government under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also approved a comprehensive transformation plan for FBR. He called the macroeconomic reforms “work in progress” and also pointed to more serious issues of climate change and child stunting which threatened to perpetuate inequalities and disrupt the pace of stability and economic growth in Pakistan over the medium to long term.
He added that Islamabad looks forward to building climate resilience via adaptation reforms and averting malnutrition with the technical as well as financial support of development partners for ensuring holistic development targets.
On his part, US Ambassador Donald Blome lauded Pakistan’s efforts for improving macroeconomic stability and appreciated the government for initiating challenging and bold reforms, especially in the taxation and energy fields.
He also reaffirmed his resolve to enhancing bilateral cooperation in technical and development steps, and promoting high-quality US investment for economic growth of Pakistan.
