Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said that the petrol prices will be reduced from April 1. “Sheikh Rasheed got nervous by our performance,” he claimed. Sheikh Rasheed was mistaken as the dollar was sold for even 97.50 rupee per unit, he added.
In an interview with a private TV channel, the finance minister said that Sheikh Rasheed and many other politicians were spreading hopelessness. Dar said inflation was moving down and foreign reserves were increasing. To a question‚ Ishaq Dar said international markets were reposing confidence in the markets of Pakistan and showing keen interest in different sectors. He said measures were being taken to control the smuggling of gold, resolve energy problem and add more energy to the system.
Pakistan seeks Japanese investment
Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan H E Hiroshi Inomata called on Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar at the ministry of finance on Monday to discuss bilateral economic co-operation between the two countries.
The finance minister informed the ambassador that as a result of structural reforms and measures introduced by the present government the economy had started to show positive results. He said tax collection, GDP growth rate and foreign exchange reserves were moving up and the rate of inflation was going down.
He mentioned that due to confidence in Pakistan’s economic policies, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) had ranked Pakistan second in the world in terms of business growth. He said if the survey was any guide then the Japanese companies should expand their business in the country. Instead of aid or loan, the government would welcome foreign direct investment from friendly countries including Japan, he added. He assured the ambassador that Japanese investors would be facilitated to invest in Pakistan where huge investment opportunities were available. Ishaq Dar said gas supply would be ensured to industrial sector.
