–PM Imran says PTI govt focusing on increasing exports, encouraging legal channels for remittances, wooing foreign investment and curbing money laundering
–Says Opp parties uniting against his govt to ‘conceal their thievery’, vows no NRO for corrupt leaders
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said Pakistan will follow the example of Madina as he unveiled the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s strategy to lift Pakistan out of debt by focusing on four areas of governance and policy making.
He was addressing the Pakistani community in Malaysia on the second day of his official visit to the country.
PM Imran stressed that Pakistan should consider Malaysia a model and work to increase exports to alleviate the burgeoning current account deficit.
He added: “Malaysia has a population of 30 million with exports worth $220 billion, while Pakistan has exports worth only $24bn even with a population of 201 million. There’s clearly something that we are doing wrong.”
The prime minister added that his government is working on a plan to increase exports.
INTRODUCE LEGAL CHANNELS FOR REMITTANCES:
He added that remittances from Pakistani diaspora help to run the country. “This is why it is important to facilitate overseas Pakistanis by creating legal channels that they could send their money through,” he stressed.
“Finance Minister Asad Umar is working on an incentive programme to make routing of remittances easier.”
He revealed that Pakistan currently receives $20bn in remittances. “If all the money sent through remittances is sent legally, we will be able to receive at least $10-12 bn in addition.”
PM OFFICE TO CATER TO INVESTORS:
The PM also emphasised upon the importance of investments from foreign businesses. He said that the economy will continue to suffer from a shortage of dollars unless more investments are attracted from abroad.
He also commended the Pakistani diaspora for their eagerness to invest in the country. In order to facilitate them, the prime minister promised an “ease of doing business”, both for foreign and domestic investments.
He promised that an office will be formed within the ambit of the PM Office, which will specifically cater to the needs and demands of investors.
Highlighting the former governments’ failure in attracting investments, he said that they had not provided incentives to investors: “Why would anyone invest in [the country] if they don’t earn any profit from it?”
He told the audience that wealth creation strengthens an economy.
“This is what Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad told me 20 years ago, as I met him soon after entering politics. Hence, we need to give investors opportunities to make money.”
IMF LOANS ARE LIKE TREATING CANCER WITH DISPRIN:
Concluding his address, the prime minister said that Pakistan could only get out of the economic mess if efforts were made to curb money laundering.
“$10bn is sent abroad through money laundering every year.”
However, he assured that investigation agencies in Pakistan are now streamlining money transfers, making it hard for people to move money abroad through illegal channels.
“To do this, we have signed MoUs (Memorandums of Understanding) with different countries. Slowly, we are getting details of all the money that has been sent abroad illegally.”
The prime minister also commented on the aid packages received from “friendly countries”, claiming that it was just a temporary solution to the issues troubling Pakistan.
He added that Pakistan has taken loans to repay installments of loans taken by former governments.
“We are trying to borrow as little from IMF as possible, and are currently negotiating an agreement with them. But this is like treating cancer with Disprin.”
DEFAULTERS TO BE THROWN IN JAIL:
PM Imran commented that opposition parties were highly critical of the new government and have been “waiting to see us fail from the first day”.
He added that this is because they are afraid that if I remain in power, they will be brought to justice and will end up going to jail in a matter of time.
“They all claim to be uniting to save democracy. But that’s a joke. They are merely protecting themselves and concealing their thievery.”
“But you will see, for the first time [in Pakistan history], the government will not give anyone a NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance] or let them excuse their actions in the name of Charter of Democracy.”
“Each one of them will be thrown in jail. Presently, the government has not even lodged a single case. All of these are outstanding charges against the opposition leaders that are now being probed.”
Adding that Pakistan will follow the example of Madina to resolve its economic and political crises, he announced that a poverty alleviation package will be introduced by the end of the week.
