President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), Mian Zahid Hussain has said government's one-year performance remained a mixed bag of achievements and failures. The government remained successful on political and diplomatic front, relations with Arab countries improved, issue of Kashmir was highlighted internationally, while Pak-US relations witnessed some improvement, he said. Mian Zahid Hussain said that the government took many unpopular decisions and tensions between the civilian government and army vanished which sent a positive signal.

He noted that the planning remained weak while it took controversial anti-corruption steps which will discourage corruption in politics and other sectors which is important for national development. Tourism was promoted, visa restrictions were relaxed which may result in investment while the decision to open Kartarpur border will improve relations with the Sikh community and result in foreign exchange earnings.

He said that the government is trying to revamp taxation system which will help Pakistan become self-sufficient therefore traders should cooperate with the government. Exports and deficit dwindled during last one year, inflation remained out of control, the developmental budget was increased by Rs 400 billion, Pakistan Post and PTV jumped to profit, PIA is improving but bleeding enterprises could not be sold.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019