PM Imran Khan for equitable GDP growth

• PM Imran Khan meets Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen and Economic Advisory Council member Dr Rashid Amjad.
• PM Khan says higher growth trajectory required to dent poverty and unemployment.
• EAC likely to hold maiden session this week on Thursday.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan held on Monday a meeting with newly-appointed Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen and emphasised the need to achieve inclusive and equitable GDP growth to create jobs and reduce poverty.

Tareen, who took charge of the office a day ago, called on the prime minister along with Economic Advisory Council (EAC) member Dr Rashid Amjad.

During the meeting, PM Khan said a higher growth trajectory was required to dent poverty and unemployment.

It was also decided that the EAC will hold its maiden session this week, likely on Thursday.

Talking to The News, Dr Amjad said the premier wanted to achieve equitable and inclusive growth and reduction in inflationary pressures.

He said the prime minister also wanted to focus on the agriculture sector to achieve productivity and efficiency.

“Malnutrition can be overcome by achieving productivity in the agriculture sector.”

PM reposes confidence in Tareen

Earlier, on Sunday, PM Khan had expressed “full confidence” in Tareen’s capabilities and said that he has known him for the last 35 years.

Speaking during the meeting, Tareen said that based on his 49 years of experience in the economic sector, he knows what measure should be taken to steer the economy in the right direction.

"The country's GDP growth should be increased by 6 to 7%," Tareen had stated.

Answering a question regarding the possible removal of the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Tareen had said that the incumbent, Raza Baqir, has done a "great job in bringing reforms to the bank."

"[Considering his performance] there is no chance of removing Baqir from his office," Tareen clarified.

Sixth cabinet reshuffle

It should be recalled that last week, PM Khan had — for the sixth time — reshuffled the federal cabinet and appointed Tareen as the country's new finance minister.

Tareen had replaced federal minister Hammad Azhar, who was appointed as the country's finance minister in March when the premier replaced Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.

Consequently, Azhar was appointed the minister for energy, replacing Omar Ayub.