Govt focusing on unemployment and investment in the country

ISLAMABAD: Federal Commerce Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan has said that the government has controlled crippling economy and now its focusing on creating employment and bringing investment in the country.

Talking to a private news channel, he said that before 2013 election, the core problems facing the masses were electricity load-shedding, terrorism and inflation while the government has overcome them to a large extent.

To a question, he said Qatar will provide LNG to Pakistan on a rate 13.37 per cent less than three-year back prices of crude oil in the international market.

He said that the LNG's rate will roughly be according to Pakistan domestic gas' price. Qatar is providing LNG to other regional countries at the rate of 5 to 6 dollar while Pakistan will get it on the price of 4.3 dollar.

To a question, he said that most of the ongoing power projects from all resources would start power generation within next two years.

To another question regarding free hand to PTV, he said that PTV is independent in giving coverage to political leaders, as it invites opposition leaders to talk-shows where they express opinion about the government publicly.

Khurram said that PTV is giving equal coverage to government and opposition leaders, but I tell you that there is room for improvement in the organization.

The Federal Minister said sufficient electricity and gas would not only be available to all sorts of consumers but also at a comparative rate within next two years.

The Federal Minister mentioned that financial close of USD 2.4 billion Thar Coal Extraction Project had been done and Prime Minister would soon perform ground-breaking of the project to be completed by 2018.

He said that Pakistan had organized a very successful single country exhibition in Sri Lanka and the TDAP would also arrange such exhibitions in other countries as well.

He expressed the satisfaction and termed it as a good omen that 200 plus companies from Pakistan would be participating in the Gulf Expo scheduled to be held on February 21-20, 2016.