Key decisions regarding new visa regime taken at SIFC meeting: PM

Islamabad: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Saturday said that important decisions regarding new visa regime were taken in the Special Investment Facilitation Council meeting held in Islamabad.

Talking about the meeting on Saturday, he said easy provision of visa will be made possible to the business community adding that people related to investment institutions will also have an easy access to take visa in this regard.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan is going to enter in to new era after taking such steps.

On Sept 6, Kakar assured implementation on measures to strengthen economy, create employment opportunities and earn foreign exchange reserves for the country.

He was chairing a meeting on Information Technology and Telecom sectors in Islamabad. The PM directed to present a comprehensive strategy to boost IT exports.

Kakar said every possible facility would be provided for the promotion of the IT sector and all targets for the promotion of investment in this field would be achieved from the platform of Special Investment Facilitation Council.

The Prime Minister further said all government services would be digitalized and a durable solution would be presented to the problems, being faced by free lancers. He said provision of world class education and skills regarding the Information Technology in country's universities would be ensured. He said the government would take steps on priority basis to promote locally produced hi-tech goods, especially smart phones. 

The meeting was apprised that digitalization of all government services would help improve revenue collection, curb tax evasion, and achieve the goal of complete documentation of Pakistan's economy.

It was told that the government is taking steps to ensure access to soft loans and investments for start-ups, which is likely to generate Foreign Direct Investment to the tune of one billion dollars in next six months.

During the meeting, a strategy regarding provision of high-speed internet, 5G services and reforms in the Telecom sector was also presented.