Economic progress of lower classes central point of PTI government's economic policies: PM

ISLAMABAD, Sep 6 (APP):Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday said since the socio-economic development and needs of lower and middle classes were totally neglected in the past, the economic progress of downtrodden and middle income classes was the central point of PTI government’s economic policies.

The prime minister expressed these views while chairing a meeting of the Economic Advisory Council here at the PM Office. The meeting was attended by Minister for Finance Asad Umar, Minister for Planning Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Advisor to PM on Commerce Abdul Razaq Dawood, Dr Ishrat Hussain, State Bank Governor, Secretary Finance Dr. Farrukh Iqbal, Dr. Ashfaq Hassan Khan, Dr. Ejaz Nabi, Dr. Abid Qayyum Sulehri, Dr. Asad Zaman, Dr. Naveed Hamid, Dr. Saleem Raza and Saqib Shirani.

The prime minister thanked the renowned experts for their participation in the Economic Advisory Council and said their experiences and recommendations would help check the country’s economic problems, besides the implementation of the government’s reforms agenda and new approach.

Giving the example of “Riasat-e-Madina”, he said it was for the first in human history when the state took over the responsibility of lower and downtrodden classes and that historic step not only helped the deprived and poor to stand on their feet, but they also emerged as a great power in the world.

The prime minister said the country could progress only if the focus of the government policies would be to uplift the lower classes and provide them equal opportunities of development.

He said the dream of progress of country and nation could not be realized until every individual of society had a stake in the economic system and development process.

Participants of the meeting gave various suggestions to address the economic challenges faced by the country.