ISLAMABAD, Mar 15 (NNI): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said that negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are progressing positively.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad Friday, Attaullah Tarar highlighted the constructive influence these discussions are having on the stock market and investor confidence.
The Minister, however, regretted that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is bent upon sabotaging the IMF deal. He said the party’s handful of supporters held a protest outside the building of the IMF and the World Bank in the US, demanding the deal not be struck with Pakistan.
He said this party has always pursued anti-Pakistani policies and their dream is for the country to default.
He said that anarchists living abroad have staged a demonstration against Pakistan in America.
He said that the party involved in the May 9 incidents is working against the interests of Pakistan. He said that the anti-Pakistan party is hell-bent on sabotaging the IMF Programme.
“Saboteurs are asking the IMF not to ink an agreement with Pakistan. It is asking the IMF to link the aid to the release of its leader,” he added.
“These people have no link with Pakistan. They want to sabotage the IMF deal as they see Pakistan as a default. Pakistan will make progress, InshAllah and conspiracies will not affect the IMF deal,” he added.
“This is a fashionable crowd and these are the enemies of Pakistan who are left with no love for the country,” the minister said while paying tributes to the overseas Pakistanis who were sending their hard-earned money to the country by doing white and blue collar jobs abroad.
Tarar advised the PTI to approach courts of Pakistan for release of Imran as IMF and World Bank had nothing to do with his cases.
He said that country was stable today with the sacrifices of martyrs, Ghazis and efforts patriotic political leaders.
He made it clear that this anti-Pakistan activity will have no impact on negotiations with the IMF and these will continue.
“The Allah Almighty had always protected Pakistan from external and internal threats and the talks with the IMF were going on positively which was also reflected by the trends in stock exchange,” he added.
“We have been voted by the people to solve the problems in the country, not to increase them”, he maintained.
The Information Minister said Pakistan will move forward on the path of development and witness growth in GDP and exports.
He said the decisions of this government will yield positive results. He said the Finance Minister has a clarity and full grip on the economic matters and he wants early resolution of the problems.
Attaullah Tarar said their mandate is to address the problems facing the people. He said it is the vision of the Prime Minister to work tirelessly to steer the country out of challenges.
The Minister said the Prime Minister has given a comprehensive agenda for economic reforms which envisages restructuring of FBR and enhancing the tax collection as well as reducing the government expenditures.
He said since the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took over the power, the economic situation has started improving.
The minister said that the Prime Minister wanted an early solution to the country’s problems and he had been pursuing the vision to chart the country on path of progress and prosperity.
He said that international organizations like Bloomberg were hailing the appointment of Muhammad Aurangzeb as the Finance Minister of the country as he had command over economic affairs.
The minister said that unfortunately an anti-national party involved in May 9 incidents was conspiring and working against the interests of Pakistan.
He said that the leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz faced imprisonment due to fake cases but it never compromised on honour and dignity of the country.
Tarar urged the youth to side with Pakistan instead of any political party, adding “This is the mission of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and we will be moving forward with the same spirit.”
To a query, he said the PTI would be requested in the dialogues to refrain from taking any such initiatives that undermined economy or country. NNI
