The Finance Minister of Pakistan, Ishaq Dar, has stated that the federal government is working diligently to steer the country out of its current economic challenges and towards sustainable growth.
Speaking at an Iftar dinner hosted by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) in honor of foreign diplomats, Dar urged friendly countries to fulfill their commitments to Pakistan to pave the way for a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the revival of the economy.
Dar highlighted that Pakistan was expected to become the world’s 18th-strongest economy in 2016 but is now facing serious economic challenges. He reassured attendees that Pakistan would not default and that the government is doing everything in its power to overcome the difficulties.
The President of ICC, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, called on the government to ensure consistency in economic policies to boost investor confidence. He encouraged diplomats to invest in Pakistan, emphasizing the country’s large market with over 220 million consumers and opportunities in various sectors of its economy.
Bakhtawari expressed hope that a deal with the IMF would soon be concluded and urged the government to work towards ending the country’s reliance on foreign loans and becoming self-sufficient. He assured attendees that the business community would fully support the government in achieving this goal.
According to APP, the Iftar dinner was attended by diplomats from various countries, including Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Indonesia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Malaysia, Poland, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Republic of Turkish Northern Cyprus, who commended the ICCI for hosting the event.
