Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday said Pakistan looked forward to further strengthen development partnership with the World Bank (WB).
Ishaq Dar was talking to Pakistan’s Executive Director in the WB, Nasir Mahmood Khosa who called on him.
The minister said the government would welcome the visit by WB Chief Executive Officer Kristalina Georgieva by the end of this month.
He stated that the government acknowledged and appreciated the support provided by the World Bank for achieving macroeconomic stability and economic development in the country. He directed to ensure quality contributions by Pakistan’s constituency in the WB on matters of policy and future plans of the bank.
Earlier, Khosa briefed the finance minister on the matters relating to the WB’s financing of various programmes and projects. The executive director informed regarding the upcoming visit of newly appointed WB’s chief executive officer. The WB CEO would be visiting Pakistan from January 26 to 28.
Private sector to play role in development
Meanwhile, Ishaq Dar said the government was extending maximum facilitation to the private sector to enable it to play its due role in increasing economic opportunities for the people.
The minister was talking to eight members global team of British American Tobacco (BAT), led by Jack Bowles, Director Asia Pacific Region that called on him.
He said that government had taken a number of steps to curb the production and smuggling of illicit tobacco products and would continue to pursue this course. He directed the Federal Board of Revenue to keep close liaison with the industry in this regard.
Director of the BAT briefed the minister about his company’s business in Pakistan and around the globe. The BAT team thanked the minister for the measures taken by the government to curb the illicit trade of tobacco products in the country.
This would facilitate legal and quality tobacco business as well as ensure proper taxation of such businesses.
