Government committed to ease public burden: Minister

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, said on Wednesday that the country’s economic indicators were showing a positive trajectory and were expected to improve further.
Talking to a private news channel, he acknowledged the public hardships but assured that the situation would gradually get better.
He noted a decrease in inflation and expressed optimism about continued positive outcomes in the coming days. The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to providing relief to the public within the limits of available resources.
He said that relying on borrowing relief followed by more loans was not a sustainable long-term solution, as it only added to the country’s financial burden. Instead, he advocated for economic reforms aimed at achieving long-term positive results.
“The focus will be on implementing reforms that do not increase the burden on the poor but rather provide relief,” he said.
He reiterated the need for a strategic approach of economic reforms to ensure sustainable economic growth and stability.
Earlier, Federal Minister of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said on Sunday that the government was not inclined towards suffocating the media, asserting that there were no such attempts from their side.
Talking to a private news channel, he said that while social media platforms offers vast benefits, it also carries risks, notably in spreading misinformation that can sow chaos in society. He said the government’s aim to mitigate these risks and ensure that social media was used responsibly.
He further noted the importance of consulting stakeholders to formulate laws aimed at addressing the challenges posed by social media. He stressed that such laws must be in the interest of all to safeguard the country from the risks associated with misinformation.
Regarding Pakistan’s Youm-e-Takbir, observed on May 28 to commemorate the country’s emergence as a nuclear power, he credited Nawaz Sharif for defying international pressure in the interest of Pakistan’s sovereignty and freedom.
He also acknowledged the foundational role played by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Pakistan’s nuclear program. He said that the general council meeting of PML-N would be held in Lahore on the historic May 28, where the election for the party’s presidency, to be contested by Nawaz Sharif, would take place. He expressed the party’s collective sentiment to address the perceived injustice done to Nawaz Sharif. –Agencies