ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Finance Minister Dr. Shamshad Akhtar was called on by Ambassador of Netherlands to Pakistan, Henny De Vries and discussed with her bilateral economic relations between the two countries.
The discussion also focused on upcoming elections in the Netherlands and both sides emphasized on importance of democratic processes.
Ambassador Henny De Vries congratulated Dr. Shamshad Akhtar for reaching the Staff Level Agreement of first Review of IMF Pakistan Standby Arrangement and also on overall improvement in the economic situation in Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Shamshad Akhtar highlighted reforms being taken by the government in various sectors specifically those related to the expansion of the tax net through the “Broadening of the Tax Base” initiative led by the Federal Board of Revenue, showcasing the commitment of the Government to improve the tax to GDP ratio of the country and reduce the current account deficit further.
The finance minister also requested the ambassador to enhance focus on the Dutch Fellowship Program, which was one of the flagship foreign-funded scholarship programs for Pakistani students.
Henny De Vries acknowledged the positive momentum in economic recovery, highlighting the resurgence of sectors such as agriculture, services and even industry. She specifically appreciated Pakistan’s initiatives for financial inclusion, particularly those targeting women. She also praised the measures aimed at enhancing the labour participation of women across various sectors of the economy in order to boost the social and economic development of the country.
The Ambassador also expressed Netherlands’ commitment to bring more investment to Pakistan.
Pressing issues of post-flood rehabilitation and climate change impact on Pakistan were also discussed.
Dr Shahmshad Akhtar expressed Pakistan’s strong commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties with the Netherlands and making collaborative efforts for the benefit of both countries.
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