Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said reducing energy costs is among the government’s top priorities as it works to support industry, businesses and economic growth.
The Prime Minister made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation of prominent industrialists and business leaders, where he discussed government measures aimed at improving the economy and promoting trade and industry.
PM Shehbaz thanked the business community for its proposals during the budget-making process, saying several of their recommendations had been incorporated into the federal budget.
He said the government was continuing to take steps to bring down the cost of energy, which remains a key concern for businesses and industries.
The Prime Minister also highlighted progress on the digitization of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), saying a major part of the process had been completed.
He said the FBR collected Rs. 800 billion through enforcement measures during the last financial year.
PM Shehbaz said the government was also focusing on developing a skilled workforce according to the requirements of industry. The objective was to equip young people with skills that match market demand.
The business delegation was briefed on government measures to improve the economy and facilitate businesses, trade and industry.
The government said port charges at the country’s ports had been reduced while their operational capacity had also been improved.
Work is also underway to upgrade the M-10 Motorway and develop the Pipri Freight Corridor to improve connectivity between Karachi’s ports and inland areas.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the planned M-13 Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway, saying its construction would reduce travel distance between Lahore and Islamabad.
He said the upgradation of Pakistan Railways would further improve the country’s transport infrastructure and enable faster movement of commercial goods.
The government also highlighted the growth in Pakistan’s IT exports, saying its measures had helped the sector achieve a record increase.
PM Shehbaz also revealed that the government was training 1 million people in information technology and artificial intelligence to build a workforce capable of meeting the growing demand for digital skills.
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