Islamabad (Staff Report): Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that the revitalisation of the national economy is the topmost priority of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
Addressing the Business Leaders Summit in Islamabad on Wednesday, the foreign minister said when Prime Minister Imran Khan came into power six months ago, he inherited a lot of challenges, including corruption, flight of capital, and other socio-economic ills, which had to be overcome.
He said that the PTI economic team, under the leadership of Finance Minister Asad Umar, has taken many steps for economic uplift of the country during the first six months of the government.
Qureshi said PTI had been elected on the agenda of change and the people will see change by the end of the tenure of the present government.
The foreign minister said the government is taking steps to create investment opportunities in the country and these steps have already paid the dividends.
He said the United Arab Emirates was keenly interested in investment in different sectors in Pakistan while Qatar also plans to invest in the country's food processing industry. Shah Mahmood said the government plans to make Pakistan a hub of business and investment in the region.
The foreign minister thanked the European foreign ministers and parliamentarians for supporting Pakistan in securing GSP Plus facility for its exports.
“Our government focused on economic diplomacy and to increase bilateral trade as Pakistan is situated at a geo strategic location”, Qureshi said.
He said we are increasing bilateral trade with Iran, China and other countries of the region.
“China is our strategic partner and we want to transform this relationship into an economic partnership. We are negotiating with China to help Pakistan in the agriculture sector and in establishing of economic zones”, Qureshi said.
The FM said Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan and government is facilitating peace process in the country.
Speaking about relations with India, he said that PM Imran Khan, after assuming the charge, offered New Delhi a hand of friendship and asked for foreign ministers meeting at the sidelines of UN General Assembly to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries through dialogue.
