Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday held a meeting with British Parliamentarians at the Portcullis House Westminster and highlighted Pakistan\u2019s deep-rooted economic and cultural ties with the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
Addressing the gathering, he mentioned Pakistan\u2019s historical role as a development leader in the 1960s, inspiring other nations with its economic model, a news release said.<\/p>\n
He emphasized the government\u2019s current focus on Balochistan\u2019s development, ensuring the upliftment of local communities through key infrastructure and investment projects.<\/p>\n
The government, he said, has completed several transformative projects in Gwadar, including establishment of a modern hospital, a university, a technical and vocational center, water plants and an extensive road network; besides solarization of residential units, provision of scholarships for students and operationalization of Gwadar Airport.<\/p>\n
Significant investments in Balochistan\u2019s mining sector are expected to be a game-changer, unlocking economic potential and improving livelihoods across the province.<\/p>\n
Highlighting key economic indicators under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the minister shared that inflation has been reduced from 38% to 4%, the policy rate from 23% to 13%, while Pakistan\u2019s stock market witnessed unprecedented growth.<\/p>\n
Additionally, exports and remittances have both increased by 30%, whereas IT exports surged by 34%, he added.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on past progress, Ahsan Iqbal recalled that during the PML-N government\u2019s tenure after 2013, Pakistan achieved a 6% growth rate under Vision 2025, despite facing challenges such as terrorism.<\/p>\n
He lamented that the economic momentum was disrupted in 2018; causing setbacks to the country\u2019s long-term development plans.<\/p>\n
He briefed the Parliamentarians on URAAN PAKISTAN, a national development initiative aimed at the holistic upliftment of 240 million Pakistanis.<\/p>\n
The minister emphasized that the initiative was not tied to any specific government but was designed to foster economic and social progress.<\/p>\n
Key features of the plan include specialized programs for the Pakistani diaspora, such as internships for youth and the \u201cChampions of Reform\u201d initiative, which encourages British-Pakistani high achievers to collaborate with the government in various sectors.<\/p>\n
The URAAN PAKISTAN initiative strikes a balance between economic growth and social development, ensuring that Pakistan\u2019s progress is inclusive and sustainable.<\/p>\n
Reiterating Pakistan\u2019s commitment to strengthening global partnerships, the minister underscored the importance of strategic ties with the United Kingdom, United States, China, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union.<\/p>\n
He stressed Pakistan\u2019s focus on enhancing trade and economic cooperation with these key partners to achieve shared prosperity.<\/p>\n
Ahsan Iqbal also acknowledged the significant contributions of British Pakistanis in fortifying the bond between the two nations and encouraged deeper engagement in Pakistan\u2019s development efforts.<\/p>\n
Earlier, British MP Mohammad Yasin welcomed Ahsan Iqbal to the British Parliament and commended his dedication to development projects in Azad Jammu & Kashmir.<\/p>\n
The minister congratulated Mohammad Yasin on his appointment as UK Trade Envoy for Pakistan and expressed confidence that his expertise would further boost economic collaboration between the two countries.<\/p>\n
Ahsan Iqbal was accompanied by Pakistan\u2019s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Dr Mohammad Faisal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday held a meeting with British Parliamentarians at the Portcullis House Westminster and highlighted Pakistan\u2019s deep-rooted economic and cultural ties with the United Kingdom. Addressing the gathering, he mentioned Pakistan\u2019s historical role as a development leader in the 1960s, inspiring other nations with its […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":458326,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-458315","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business"},"yoast_head":"\n