Finance adviser Hafeez Shaikh talks upcoming budget in meeting with PM Imran

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May 29, 2020

'The government's performance has improved and deficits narrowed,' Dr Shaikh says

ISLAMABAD: Finance Adviser Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Friday met with Prime Minister Imran Khan to talk about the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Dr Shaikh called on the prime minister at the PM House in the federal capital, where the two discussed budget-related matters for the next fiscal year.

Earlier in the day, the prime minister had chaired a high-level meeting to review Pakistan's current economic situation.

Apart from Shaikh, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Adviser on Commerce, Textiles, Industries, and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood, Adviser on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain, and other senior officials were present in the meeting. Industries and Production Minister Hammad Azhar joined via a video link.

The finance adviser briefed the meeting on various issues, including the country's economic situation and economic relief during the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Shaikh apprised the meeting of an improvement in the economic indicators in the first nine months of the ongoing fiscal year. "The government's performance has improved and deficits narrowed," he said.

"Foreign direct investment also increased and revenue collection improved," he noted.

He also informed the meeting about the relief given to the industries — including the construction sector — and the business community. He briefed PM Imran on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, as well as on the government's priorities during the current situation and economic recovery of Pakistan.

The prime minister directed for the institutional reform process and efforts for economic growth to continue.

"Provide maximum relief to the people," PM Imran said.



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