Friday, 29 March 2024, 01:52:29 pm

Govt to expand social protection programs: Hammad Azhar
May 22, 2021

Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar has said the government will expand the social protection programs to help the low income groups.

Giving an economic outlook at a news conference in Islamabad today (Saturday), he hoped that the economic growth would reach four percent during the current financial year.

The Minister said this is the outcome of our prudent economic policies despite the negative impact of Covid-19.

He said this is not a temporary growth but will be sustained and further strengthened.

Hammad Azhar said this is not a temporary growth but will be sustained and further strengthened.

The Minister said large scale manufacturing grew by nine percent during the first nine months of current year and country's export has been recorded 3.2 billion US dollars in the month of March.

He said the foreign exchange reserves have touched the level of 23 billion US dollars while remittances have witnessed a growth of 39 percent in the current year.

The Minister said the cement production has seen a record production of 17 percent while better crop prices have benefitted the farmers' community.

Responding to a question, Hammad Azhar said the government has a management plan to address the issue of circular debt.