Media Coverage

Federal Minister of Finance Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan’s exports are likely to go up at least by $2 billion with award of GSP+ status by Europe.

He was speaking as a chief guest at the concluding session of three-day 16th Sustainable Development Conference organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI). The minister noted that a number of measures were taken to fix the economy and the trust of international community on Pakistan is beginning to take root. He said that the government increased allocations for social safety nets to protect the poor when austerity measures were being taken to bring down the deficit.

Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, said that "South Asian-ness" is an identity that is waiting to be realised.

SDPI Executive Director Dr Abid Suleri presented recommendations from the wide-range of panels during the three day conference.

MNA Marriyum Aurangzeb said that Pakistan was unable to achieve MDGs due to lack of effective monitoring. She said that peace and security should be included as a separate goal in the post-MDGs agenda.

Adil Najam, former Vice-Chancellor, Lahore University of Management Sciences, said that the idea of South Asia is very strong even as the structure may still be loose. There is also a visible urge by most in the region to hold on to a joint identity of South Asia, he said.