Rs 35 billion have been allocated in the budget for the timely completion of the Western route of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), said Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal.
Speaking in the Senate the other day, he rejected claims that only a sterile amount has been confided in the budget for the Western route. He said the government is giving priority to the Western route and Rs 22 billion have been allocated only for the Dera Ismail Khan-Burhan Section in the budget.
He also added that significant work has also been done for the Gwadar International Airport.
The minister said that the governments of Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are fully supporting the project.
Iqbal said the government has also allocated Rs 5.4 billion for the upgradation of Indus Highway.
Responding to a calling attention, Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir said that a comprehensive incentive package has been announced in the new budget to steady the exports textile products.
He pointed out the exports of ready-made garments and knitwear witnessed growth during the outgoing financial year.
He said the government is committed to supporting all export-oriented sectors and equip them with the latest technology to achieve higher exports.
Taking part in the debate, Najma Hameed said the PML-N government always worked for the strengthening of economy and that the CPEC would prove to be a milestone for the country. She pointed out that taxes on milk and dairy products should be withdrawn.
Raheela Magsi also appreciated the government’s steps towards enhancing the tax revenues and welcomed the increase in the salaries of government employees but said that it should be enhanced to 15 per cent.
