ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interim-Prime Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has said that Saudi Arabia and the Middle would invest in projects worth $25 billion each in the next two to five years.
The prime minister made the remarks during an interaction with foreign journalists at his office in Islamabad on Monday.
Electricity Bills and Power Sector
While mentioning the issues of circular debt, power theft and high taxes, he said the government would introduce short-term solutions to address the issue.
He said that his government was exploring realistic options to come up with concrete solutions to provide relief to electricity consumers.
Economic Issue
Prime Minister Kakar in his views said the interim setup was mainly focused on rearranging the fiscal and monetary plans for the economic revival of the country.
He termed the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) a strategy for economic revival, adding it focused on agriculture, mines and minerals, defence production and information technology.
The PM stated his government was focusing on economic reform agenda and the imminent steps in this regard included the privatization of two or more power distribution companies.
Upcoming elections
He added that the interim government was mandated to facilitate holding of general elections as early as possible.
He said the Constitution is very clear on carrying out the delimitation of constituencies following the population census.
To a question, The PM said all the registered political parties would be provided a level playing ground to contest the general elections without any discrimination. However, he said political vandalism would be dealt according to the law.
Situation in Afghanistan
He said that Pakistan is facing the menace of terrorism because of the leftover military equipment by the United States and allied forces in Afghanistan which is a threat to peace and required a coordinated approach to deal with.
PM Kakar added the foreign forces quit Afghanistan after losing interest but “we are here to defend our home, children, mosques and places of worship.”
Pak-Afghan ties
He said the Pak-Afghan ties were deeply rooted culturally, religiously and socially.
The PM went on to say Pakistan warmly welcomed Afghan refugees and the government was coming up with a strategy to address the challenge of illegal immigrants.
People of Balochistan welcome CPEC
On the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Caretaker PM Kakar said regardless of any political affiliation the people of Balochistan welcomed the projects taken under the initiative.
He reiterated the government’s pledge to go to any extent to protect the Chinese workers taking part in the CPEC projects.
Referring to the massive reserves worth $6 trillion of copper and gold in Balochistan, the prime minister said the Reko Diq project was about to launch soon.
Saudi Arabia, ME to invest $25 billion in Pakistan
He expressed the optimism that foreign investment projects from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East worth $25 billion would realize in a time span of two to five years.
May 9 Events
The Prime Minister said the events of May 9 was an attempt to create societal disorder. He noted that such behavior against state institutions would not be tolerated at any cost. — APP
