Providing relief to poor govt’s priority: Gilani

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday said that providing relief to the people especially those in the lowest income groups, is the topmost priority of the government in the forthcoming budget. Chairing a meeting to discuss budgetary matters at the PM House, he said the government is well aware of the problems of the poorest and vulnerable groups.
He said they are facing hardships due to food inflation and expressed government’s strong resolve to address their needs through various incentives.
Explaining government’s priorities, the Prime Minister stressed the need to incorporate measures which helps in addressing the challenges the country was facing.
He said that boosting of agriculture and manufacturing growth, overcoming energy and water shortages, developing human resource as well as providing relief to the lowest income groups are the real objectives to be incorporated in the budget.
The Prime Minister said that construction of small dams, incentives for private sector to invest in the power generation projects, increased allocation for water conservation and management are some of the areas that need focused attention to meet the growing demand of energy.
In order to improve the overall socio-economic condition of the country, he said that concrete proposals need to be adopted for launching of new schemes which help in creating job opportunities both in the manufacturing and agriculture sector.
The meeting was attended by the Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister for Finance Syed Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant to PM on economic Affairs Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Special Assistant to PM Ms. Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Salman Farooqi, Members of economic advisory committee, Chairman FBR, Secretary Finance and Secretary Planning.