Finance Minister Ishaq Dar says international institutions have expressed complete confidence on Pakistan's economic statistics. Ishaq Dar on Saturday stressed the need for promoting relations between the member countries of South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation. Addressing a conference organised under the auspices of South Asian Federation of Accountants ((SAFA))in Islamabad on Saturday, he said SAARC counties should promote trade and links with each other.

He said there is no cut in development budget of the country and the journey of prosperity will continue. Ishaq Dar said 260 percent increase has been made in development budget. Ishaq Dar said, "We inherited a poor state of economy with the growth rate of meager 3 percent in 2013. However, due to economic vision of the prime minister and effective economic policies the situation of economy has highly improved".

The finance minister said the government has signed agreements with international institutions to help stop tax evasion, and as a result tax income will exceed 3500 billion rupees this year. He said the government is spending additional one hundred billion rupees to improve law and order. The finance minister said we will welcome suggestion of forum in the field of social development. He said becoming a member of multinational convention will promote transparency in administrative matters.

Copyright News Network International, 2017