ISLAMABAD, Jan. 6 (APP): Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Marvi Memon Wednesday said that Pakistan’s economy was gradually getting stable due to prudent policies of the government.
Taking part in the debate on Presidential address to the Parliament, she said, due to Four Es of the PML-N government- Economy, energy, extremism and education, the GDP growth rate had been increased while inflation, fiscal deficit decreased.
She said trade deficit had been decreased to 5.4 percent and it would be further reduced to 4.3 percent at the end of current fiscal year.
She said the government had cut down non-developmental expenditure by 40 percent and foreign reserves and remittances were on the rise.
She said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project was a game changer.
She said it was project of national importance and politics should not be played on its western route.
Marvi said that under the tax amnesty scheme the number of tax payers would be increased.
The government had initiated a number of schemes like National Health Programme, Youth Loan Programme, Laptop Scheme for youth under the PM’s Loan Scheme, She added.
She said the government had taken a number of steps for welfare of downtrodden and women folk, adding that the amount for BISP had been increased from Rs 40 billion to 102 billion rupees.
She said that 5.2 million women were taking benefit from this scheme.
Taking part in the debate PTI’s Shafqat Mehmood said that the government should concentrate on three fundamental problems of Pakistan.
He said that population explosion was a big challenge and asked the government what steps it had taken to control it.
He said the government should invest in human resources, increase the literacy rate and skills development.
Shafqat Mahmood said that water conservation was another big issue confronting the country.
He warned that if timely steps were not taken for water conservation it would affect the whole country.
He also called for improvement in system of governance and civil service reforms.
He also demanded that the government should take parliament into confidence on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif telephonic conversations with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Pathankot Airbase attack.
PPP’s Dr.Nafeesa Shah called for convening of Council of Common Interest (CCI) meeting with immediate effect.
She was of the view that the National Action Plan (NAP) was not producing its results.
Earlier, Chairman Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, Owais Ahmed Lehgari told the House that Pakistan should play its role with utmost responsibility on Saudi Arab and Iran standoff.