ISLAMABAD: Federal minister for Information Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said on Tuesday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, under the leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, would make the country economically and politically stable. Addressing a function at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce (ICCI), the minister said that the people of Pakistan had found political destination and with the grace of Allah Almighty, Pakistan would attain progress under the leadership of Imran Khan. He said that the major challenge being faced by the PTI dispensation was that of economy, not politics. “Both Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari have contested their last elections and their days in politics were over,” he added. He said that the PTI government inherited a Pakistan which was at risk of default (in meeting international payments), facing fiscal deficit and high inflation with dollar at Rs 128. “However, with the cooperation of friendly countries like China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, we overcame that situation,” he added. “The PTI’s economic team was striving to revive economy by reducing imports and increasing exports and foreign remittances from $ 20 billion (bn) $ 30bn per year,” he added. Fawad said that this year the number of tax return filers had registered 30 per cent increase, which was a good omen as the economy could not be stabilized without rise in the number of tax payers. He said that corruption and money laundering were interlinked as the looted money from the national exchequer used to be sent abroad through money laundering. The minister said Pakistan’s image in the world had improved as a result of the government’s steps in foreign policy and economic sector. “Our relations with the United States are improving and they have thanked Pakistan for facilitating negotiations with the Afghan Taliban,” he said. “The British Airways is going to resume its operations in Pakistan,” he said further “The British Airways’ decision was a very good step which showed that Pakistan’s image at international level had improved,” he added. He said that the opening of Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims would also bring economic benefits through religious tourism. Fawad said that in the past rulers used to purchase properties abroad but now the international community today had trusted Pakistan with the PTI government at the helm of affairs. “Along with large scale businesses, small and medium size ones would have to be developed,” he said. “The PTI government has signed a memorandum of understanding with China to make agriculture main focus of CPEC,” he added. The minister said in the past the government spent $ 7 billion to stabilise the rupee artificially, which left a negative impact on the economy. “The present government would take measures to stabilize the rupee through market forces,” he said. Replying to questions of the ICCI office-bearers, he said that justice would prevail as former finance minister Ishaq Dar would be extradited to Pakistan and the looted national wealth would also be got back. He said that in 1960s, Pakistan’s film industry used to be the third largest in the world, but later its decline started and at one point not a single film was made. “The PTI government is encouraging construction of new cinema halls in the country as at present only 187 cinema screens are operational while over 1,000 are needed to make the local film industry financially viable,” he said. He added that it was an encouraging sign that the films released during the current year did good business. He said that the local drama industry was also being affected by import of teleplays. “I would ask the Federal Board of Revenue to regulate drama import business to save the local entertainment industry,” he added. Published in Daily Times, December 19th2018.