PPP-PML-N reforms agenda: no tangible progress seen

Parliamentary Committees of Pakistan People''s Party and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) on economic reforms agenda have not been able to make any tangible progress on Wednesday even after the passage of almost half of the 45-day deadline.
Talking to media after the meeting, Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh dispelled the impression of impasse in talks saying "we are holding dialogue on complex issues which requires homework, discussion, leadership input and consensus."
However, Senator Ishaq Dar who is heading the PML-N team says that he can not predict anything. Sources said the Finance Minister has lodged protest during meeting on the statement by Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader Ahsan Iqbal that so far there is no tangible development in talks. The finance minister is also said to have raised the issue of opposition to the increase in oil prices and said this was a global phenomena and exhausting estimated income on account of petroleum levy.
The minister said that discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere and the 10-point agenda was reviewed in a comprehensive manner. The minister said that he could say on behalf of both the sides that dialogue are moving ahead seriously and work has been completed on some issues. The meeting reviewed the proposals of sub committees on electricity, national accountability law, restructuring of State Owned Enterprises, gas load management and petroleum prices. The government side, he said informed the Pakistan Muslim League (N) committee about the approval by Prime Minister for formation of boards of electricity companies.
The minister said that discussions were also held on expenditure cut of the federal government and Punjab government and difficult decisions would have to be taken to meet the expectations of the people with respect to economic reforms.
Senator Dar said both sides are making efforts to accelerate the progress on economic reforms agenda and some more proposals would be discussed in the next meeting on February 8. He said the government side has assured them that notification with respect to constitution of Parliamentary Committee for appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) would be issued in a couple of days by Speaker National Assembly. Dar said that expenditure details of the Punjab government were also shared with the Center. In the next meeting, he said the government committee would also consider the proposals for restructuring of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Replying to questions, he said that this was not correct that their party has dropped its demand for implementation of court verdict on NRO and removal of corrupt ministers from the Cabinet, as these two points are also under discussion and are part of expenditure control and right-sizing. Dar said that the country''s economic situation is very serious and his party was negotiating with the government to steer the country of prevailing crisis with open mind and heart irrespective of past experience. Walkout or boycott in the prevailing economic situation would not help the country.
When asked whether talks were held on implementation of Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) to increase the revenue, he said this issue did not come under discussion as both sides are trying to fix the mega issues which are complex. The government economic team also held talks with the PML-Q leadership on Wednesday and briefed them about the measures taken to reduce expenses, planned rightsizing of the Cabinet.