Manend Team 
ISLAMABAD, (MANEND NEWS): Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the
country’s economic indicators are on positive trajectory despite many
challenges including that of the Covid-19.
He was addressing a ceremony in Islamabad on Thursday in
connection with Roshan Digital Account crossing five hundred million
dollars mark in remittances. Imran Khan said the present government
has made record repayments of $20 billion in foreign loans over the
last two and a half years.
The Prime Minister expressed his pleasure over the record increase in
the country’s exports at a time when the economies around the world
were badly affected by the breakout of the pandemic. He said our
exports have increased more than our competitors including India and
Bangladesh. He said the country’s textile sector is witnessing a boom
and new textile mills are being opened.
Imran Khan noted that the conscious efforts to improve exports as well
as remittances including those in Roshan Digital Pakistan Account have
helped stabilize the rupee.
The Prime Minister said that eighty eight thousand Roshan Digital
Accounts have been opened in ninety seven countries. He pointed out
that the overseas Pakistanis are our biggest asset and it has been his
endeavor to tap this potential to take forward the country.
Imran Khan directed the State Bank of Pakistan to open a special cell
to fully facilitate the overseas Pakistanis in opening the Roshan Digital
Account. He said the more we facilitate the expatriates, more amounts
will come in the Roshan Digital Account.
He also stressed for a focussed and innovative media campaign for
overseas Pakistanis to apprise them about this new initiative. He was
confident that this will help increase the number of accounts.
The Prime Minister said the banking sector has an important role in
Naya Pakistan Housing Program as well as the promotion of small and
medium enterprises. He said these two sectors have the potential to
accelerate the economic growth.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor State Bank of Pakistan Reza Baqir
announced that Naya Pakistan Certificates will now also be available to
expatriate Pakistanis in UK pound and Euro.
He said there are about seven to nine million overseas Pakistanis,
expressing the confidence that more people will become part of the
Roshan Digital Account. He said under this initiative the overseas
Pakistanis can open their accounts without going to the bank or the
embassy. He said these accounts have been made repatriable as part
of efforts to facilitate the overseas Pakistanis.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Imran Khan says protection and restoration
of forests is part of government’s priorities as trees and their
plantation are pivotal to contain adverse impact of climate change.
He was chairing a meeting in Islamabad on Thursday regarding
protection and restoration of forests in Punjab. The Prime Minister
instructed to utilize modern technology for the conservation and
restoration of forests. He advised to formulate a coordinated policy for
restoration of jungles in the province.
Imran Khan directed to ensure coordinated measures to stop illegal
hunting and cutting of trees in Punjab. The Prime Minister was briefed
about steps taken for the revival of Chhanga Manga and other jungles.
It was told that 25,000 acres of Chhanga Manga jungle were turned
into barren land by cutting trees.
The meeting was informed that plantation on one thousand acres of
land has been completed under Ten Billion Tree Tsunami, while
forestation on another 2,5000 acres of land will be completed by 2023.
