Pakistan Views

Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) was autonomous as well as accountable to the parliament. Addressing a conference on SBP 60th Anniversary here, Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that the country was faced with four major challenges, of them international oil and commodities markets prices hikes were on top of the list. He said that he government was endeavoring to cut down the financial deficit, while the topmost priority of the government was to bolster agriculture sector and create employment opportunities. Livestock and fisheries would also be given a boost besides among other measures for the development of agriculture, 5 percent excise duty on the import of farming machineries and tools has been abolished, he said.

The prime minister said that the banking facilities have to be taken to the rural areas. He further said that the economic freedom, de-regularization and privatization were the topmost priority on the agenda of the government.