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ISLAMABAD: Minster for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz on Thursday said that the government had ensured implementation of its complete manifesto in its five years tenure. Addressing a news conference along with other cabinet members about the two-year performance of the government in Islamabad, he said the government had overcome various challenges during the last two years, putting the country on the path of development.

The minister said the country's economy had become strong. "The government is still facing various challenges, including price hike, hoarding and smuggling, which will also be addressed," he added.

Shibli said Prime Minister Imran Khan's topmost priority was to reduce prices of the essential commodities. He said that the PTI government would implement its complete manifesto during its five-year term.

The minister said the politics of vested interests and corruption were going to end, and would be replaced with politics of public service. Prime Minister's Adviser on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain said 73,000 redundant posts, lying vacant for more than one year, had been abolished.

He made it clear that the government was not going to deprive anyone of job and it only abolished the redundant posts to reduce the size of the federal government as an austerity measure. Dr Hussain said 440 various federal departments and institutions had been reduced to 324.

He said those departments had lost their importance and their reduction would result in saving government expenditure. The adviser said automation was our top priority to check corruption, bad governance, and discretionary powers of the government functionaries.

He said information technology had a cardinal role in introducing automation in government departments to improve their performance. The adviser said business process would be made easy by introducing e-filing.

Dr Hussain said, "We are going to introduce Public Finance Management System under which government departments have to present their reports before the parliament."

He said loss-making entities such as the Pakistan International Airlines and the Pakistan Steel Mills had been continuously bleeding the economy of the country, and now steps were being taken to reform and restructure the PIA, the PSM and the Federal Board of Revenue to make them efficient and modern entities.

He said now refunds of the business community would be given in an automated manner to ensure transparency. Regarding civil service reforms, the adviser said, earlier, cadre officers were offered trainings and now it would be available for non-cadre people as well.

He said now promotion to various posts would be made on performance and training basis instead of relying on seniority alone. Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul said the present government had taken unprecedented steps over the last two years for the protection of environment.

She said those measures were also being recognised worldwide. Gul said the 'Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Project' was actively being pursued and it would help provide one million jobs to the youth. The minister of state said, "We are also working with the Ministry of National Food Security on climate-resilient agriculture project in order to protect this vital sector of the economy from the adverse impacts of climate change."

Addressing the news conference, Special Assistant on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said the PTI government had set a five-point agenda to address the climate change challenges.

He said the five-point agenda included "Ten Billion Tree Tsunami", "Clean and Green Pakistan", plastic bags, electrical vehicles, and protected areas.

On 'Ten Billion Tree Tsunami', Aslam said the federal government developed a consensus among the provinces on the project, and it was being implemented in all the four provinces as well as in the AJK and the Gilgit-Baltistan.

He said the target of one billion trees would be achieved in June next year. Aslam said public approach was changing at the local level to make Pakistan clean and green.

He said the situation about "Clean and Green Pakistan" was being monitored in 20 cities in view of the set 35 indicators. The special assistant said Electric Vehicle Policy had been approved. He said charging stations were being installed.

He hoped manufacturing of various electric vehicles would start soon in the country. Regarding banning plastic bags, the adviser said the law about banning plastic bags was enforced by 80 percent in the federal capital.

He said provinces also emulated the federal government's decision about banning of plastic bags. Aslam said the government had also announced to establish national parks in the country.

He said thousands of jobs were being created in the projects being executed under the Ministry of Climate Change. He said the initiatives taken by the government about climate change had earned appreciation for the country at the international level.

Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood said the government had taken all necessary steps for promotion of exports, which had helped reduce the current account deficit to three billion dollars from 20 billion dollars. He said that country received record remittances in the month of July this year, which was good news for the economy.

Dawood said that government formulated a comprehensive export promotion strategy and expressed the confidence that a positive trend witnessed in July would continue in the months ahead. He said that government had announced incentives for five major industries.

He said ease of doing business, "Made in Pakistan", tariff reforms, and other policies of the government were strengthening the economy of the country. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said record legislation was made in the parliament by ensuring working relationship with the opposition, despite political differences.

He said the parliament unanimously approved making it compulsory to write Khatimun Nabeen before the name of holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in every government document. He said legislation was made on teaching of Quran in Urdu, on the Naya Pakistan Housing Authority, Billion Tree Tsunami, and to bring Pakistan out of the Financial Action Task Force's "grey list".

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020

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