Relief for poor, skilled youth and fair tax system key to economic stability: Minister Qaiser

FAISALABAD/CHINIOT, Mar 09 (APP):Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh on Monday said that relief for the poor, skilled youth and effective tax system for the affluent class were essential steps to steer Pakistan towards sustainable economic stability and self-reliance.

Addressing the annual Eid package distribution ceremony in Chiniot, he said that the country needed a balanced economic strategy to ease financial pressure on weak segments of the society while strengthening national resources to overcome global financial challenges.

He said that the state and leadership had a fundamental responsibility to support vulnerable segments of the society. Thousands of deserving families benefited from the Eid package initiative every year, enabling them to share the joys of the festival, he added.

He said that tradition of distributing assistance among the needy had been continuing for the past 25 years, reflecting a strong sense of social responsibility and public service.

He said that the true purpose of politics was not merely to attain power but to serve humanity and improve living standards of underprivileged communities.

Highlighting the importance of education and skills, he said that financial aid alone could not provide a permanent solution to economic challenges. However, equipping young people with modern education and technical skills would empower them to contribute effectively to national development, he added.

He said that establishment of FAST University and Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF) campuses in Chiniot had laid the foundation for an educational transformation in the region. This initiative would enable local students to pursue higher education without traveling to far-flung cities and would accelerate regional development, he added.

The minister said that the government had taken various measures to provide relief to the common man and it would continue its tradition of supporting citizens during difficult economic times.

In this regard, he announced that motorcyclists and rickshaw drivers would receive five liters of free petrol on Independence Day this year which would help them to cope with inflationary pressures.

Discussing the national economy, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh stressed the need for fundamental reforms in the taxation system to strengthen Pakistan’s financial structure.

He said that wealthy and resourceful segments of the society must recognize their national responsibility and contribute more through taxes to reduce financial burden on weak groups.

He said that government’s economic strategy aimed to lead Pakistan towards a strong and independent economy in addition to reduce reliance on global financial institutions although such a path sometimes required difficult decisions.

The federal minister appreciated the public welfare initiatives of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz, saying that the government was utilizing all available resources to provide maximum relief to the masses and further strengthen social protection programs.

The government was committed to supporting vulnerable communities, promoting education and skills among youth and implementing practical policies to transform Pakistan into a prosperous and self-reliant state, he added.

Earlier, the minister also distributed clothes among deserving women under Eid package.