ISLAMABAD – Talks on the 10-point agenda with the government have concluded and the PML-N’s support for additional revenue measures is linked to the implementation of its reform agenda within the deadline, the party said on Tuesday.
After lengthy deliberations, the government and the PML-N decided to direct the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to determine within three weeks whether political influence was used in writing off 1,300 loans of 16 public sector financial institutions amounting to Rs 96 billion and thereafter commencing the process of recovery.
The PML-N made a new demand stressing upon the federal government to play its role in resolving the disruption of gas supplies to Punjab that had resulted in closure of industries and loss of thousands of jobs. It was also decided that the government would present the progress report on the implementation of the agenda on February 22, two days before the expiration of the deadline.
Briefing reporters, Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh along with Senator Ishaq Dar of the PML-N said the SBP had provided a list of 1,300 cases of written-off loans involving Rs 96 billion. He said the SBP had been directed to determine within three weeks whether these loans were written-off using political influence.
He said the draft of the accountability law and formation of committee for appointment of the chief election commissioner would also be finalised by February 22.
