Priorities in budget to be shared with media soon: Tarin

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin has announced that the process to prepare the federal budget for the next fiscal year 2021-22 has begun.
Tarin made these remarks after assuming charge of the Finance Ministry on Monday. “I have received briefings from the finance ministry on budget and we will be including various projects in it needed for the improvement of the economy,” Tarin said, adding that soon he would share his priorities in the budget with the media.
The finance minister said that it was his first day in the Finance Ministry after 11 years and he took briefings on the working of the ministry for two hours.
Earlier in the day, Tarin took charge of his responsibilities as finance minister after he visited the ministry and met with the senior officials. Tarin was introduced with the Finance Ministry officials as he hoped that they would jointly work as a team to run the affairs in a smooth manner.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his full confidence in newly-appointed Finance Minister Tarin’s abilities and said that he has known him for the last 35 years. The prime minister said this during a recently held meeting with Tareen at the Prime Minister’s House before the latter’s elevation to the ministerial post.
“I am confident that Shaukat Tarin will come up with better planning for the further stability of the country’s economy,” the prime minister said. “Shaukat Tarin will work in an organised manner for bringing further stability,” the premier added.
During the meeting, discussions were held related to the economic situation of the country. Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar was also in attendance along with the social media team of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Speaking on the occasion, the incumbent finance minister said that they have to bring the GDP growth to six to seven percent in order to address the economic woes of the country. “The country’s GDP growth should be increased by 6 to 7 per cent,” Tareen maintained.
Tarin said that based on his 49 years of experience in the economic sector, he knows what measure should be taken to steer the economy in the right direction.
When asked regarding any plans to remove the governor of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Tarin said that there are no chances of his removal as he had brought exemplary reforms in the system.
The participants also asked Tarin regarding his economic plans.