ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday said the comments and proposals received from different stakeholders should be given due consideration in finalising the budget. He was chairing a meeting to review preparations for the budget 2017-18. He emphasised that all budget-related activities should be undertaken in accordance with the agreed timeline. He said closer coordination between the Finance Ministry and other ministries/departments was imperative to carry out the budget exercise in a cohesive manner. The minister said that budget would reflect the government’s resolve for sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Budget, as earlier decided is proposed to be presented before the National Assembly ahead of Ramadan as would be the Economic Survey. The minister was given an update on budget preparations by the finance secretary. The meeting was informed that following issuance of indicative budget ceilings to the ministries/divisions the process of preparation of budgetary estimates was at an advanced stage. The minister was further informed about the meetings that have been undertaken until date with stakeholders, including business community, traders, chambers of commerce and industries besides economic experts and professionals. Dar was apprised that useful inputs have been received for the budget. Separately, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir said the government was committed to protecting intellectual property rights to enhance trade in the country. He said this at a meeting with a Chinese delegation led by State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) Deputy Commissioner Dr Zhimin. Commerce Secretary Azmat Ranjha and Intellectual Property Organisation Chairman Shahid Rashid were also present. The minister supported the idea of formally signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between IPO-Pakistan and SIPO-China for fruitful cooperation and promotion of intellectual property rights (IPR) in both the countries. He also assured the delegation that the government of Pakistan would provide full support to the initiatives of SIPO in enhancing bilateral, technical and promotional cooperation with IPO-Pakistan. Dastgir maintained that Pakistan would certainly like to learn from the SIPO about the use of IT skills for the better and efficient enforcement of IPRs in the country. Zhimin appraised the minister about the decisions taken in the recent meetings held between SIPO and IPO. The Chinese dignitary praised the steps taken by Pakistan to promote IPR culture in Pakistan. The minister directed the commerce secretary and IPO chairman to ensure that both IPO and SIPO consult in advance of World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in order to have single stance on major WIPO issues.