Fighting organized crimes top agenda of govt: PM Imran

"Political leadership and bureaucracy have to determine the future of the country," said PM Imran.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that the elimination of organized crime including corruption, money laundering, cyber and economic crime, immigration related crimes and across the board accountability is the top point of the government’s agenda.

Newly-appointed Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Dr. Wajid Zia, called on premier Imran Khan. Special Assistant to the PM on Accountability Shahzad Akbar was also present during the meeting.

DG FIA Dr. Wajid Zia assured the PM Imran that he would do his best to serve the country with commitment.

Newly appointed DG-FIA Dr. Wajid Zia called on Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI today. SAPM Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar was also present during the meeting.#PTIStabilisesEconomy pic.twitter.com/FBM0MLzc9N

— Tehreek-e-Insaf (@InsafPK) December 2, 2019

The prime minister expressed: “The government and people must understand their responsibilities as jihad and national duty.

“The country stands at a crucial point in history, and political leadership and bureaucracy have to translate their vision for the country’s development and people’s prosperity into reality.” 

Speaking to the recently promoted federal secretaries, who called on him here, the prime minister said, Pakistan, being considered as an ideal country owing to it its good governance in the 1960s decades was now behind other countries of the region, which had several reasons.

The prime minister said that Allah Almighty had blessed Pakistan with abundant resources and manpower. He added that foreign investors in the last 15 months had evinced keen interest in all sectors of the economy.

He asserted that economic stability had returned due to government efforts and now the local as well as foreign investors and business community were expressing confidence on the government’s policies.

"International institutions were also acknowledging improvement in the country’s economy," said PM Imran.

He said that it was need of hour that bureaucracy must play its due role in governance and welfare of the people to further boost economic stability.

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed satisfaction over Pakistan‘s economic situation saying that ensuring progress on development projects will accelerate the economic process.

According to details, PM Imran presided over an important meeting of the economic team. During the meeting, the premier was briefed on the measures taken for the development projects. He was briefed that exports has increased by six percent this year compared to last year.

PM Imran adressed the meeting asserting that economic stability and creating jobs for youth are the top priority of the government. “All the focus of the government is on providing relief to the common man”, he added.

The economic team meeting also reviewed the country‘s economic situation and the pending cases of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in the courts.

The Prime Minister directed to give special attention on improving the coordination between ministries and departments, while promoting out of box thinking and suggestions.

Chairman FBR gave a detailed briefing to the Prime Minister on measures taken regarding payment of refunds to exporters.

The Prime Minister directed the FBR to further simplify the system of refunds payments so that small and medium exporters do not face any difficulty in receiving the refunds. The Prime Minister said the country has achieved economic stability due to government steps and trust of business community has increased.

He said all out facilities should be provided to small and medium traders and exporters in order to encourage them and to promote the positive sentiments and trust.

Special Assistant on Petroleum Nadeem Babar apprised the meeting on TAPI gas pipeline progress.

The meeting was apprised that export figures of Jul-Nov indicate increase in export volume and its income in terms of dollars. The exports registered an increase of six percent in October this year in comparison with same period last year. The November also saw an increase of 9.6 percent. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction on this positive trend.

The premier was informed that 551 cases out of 1089 relating to FBR in the superior judiciary have been decided while 285 are under trial.

PM Imran directed the Attorney General that efforts should be expedited to resolve the cases in courts on fast track basis. He directed to provide all necessary resources to Attorney General s Office to put the government‘s viewpoint before the court in FBR related cases. The Prime Minister said early resolution of the cases will help resolve the problems of business community.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar, Minister of National Food Security and Research Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, Federal Minister for Energy Omar Ayub, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Advisor Dr Ishrat Hussain, Attorney General for Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan.