Govt takes difficult decisions to improve economic situation: Ahsan

Islamabad: Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal Tuesday said that the government has taken difficult decisions to save the economy.

While talking to the media persons, the minister expressed the confidence that the economy will stabilize in the next few months.

Ahsan Iqbal said the present government is giving special emphasis to the agriculture sector and has given incentives to the farmers to bolster the production of wheat, sugar and cotton. He said enhancing the production of palm oil will also help the country save foreign exchange currently being spent on its import.

The Minister for Planning said the traders' community has also been asked to close markets by 8:30 pm to conserve the energy. He said this will help us cut import bill of petroleum products.

Ahsan Iqbal said the government is also focusing on the development projects. He said the highest ever allocation of fifty-five billion dollars have been made in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the development of tribal districts. 

Criticizing the policies of past government, the Minister for Planning said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had signed an anti- people agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).