Washington: After the PTI overwhelmingly defeated the ruling coalition in the Punjab by-elections, federal minister for planning and development Ahsan Iqbal spoke about the government’s strategy for reviving the economy and repairing ties with the United States at a dinner on Sunday night in Washington.
In the briefing he delivered to the US media on Monday, he reiterated some of these ideas and assured Americans that “a robust partnership with Pakistan serves the interests of both nations.”
The minister outlined a four-point strategy for reviving the economy: boosting exports, attracting foreign investment, raising the tax-to-GDP ratio, and dealing with the government-owned businesses that are operating at a loss.
His strategy to strengthen relationships with the US incorporates the Pakistani-American population in a way that would need the establishment of a relationship with them. At the embassy, as well as at events in New York, Washington, and at a doctors’ convention in Atlantic City, he emphasised this point.How a government that, at best, has just a year remaining in office can accomplish these important aims is what he did not elaborate on, or at least was not mentioned in the press release published by the embassy. How will it win over a neighbourhood that supports its adversary?
The community in Atlantic City made it clear who it supports at the convention by not trying to hide its liking for Imran Khan.
They yelled phrases that denounced the corruption allegations of the current leaders. They also denounced the PTI government’s abrupt resignation. While the majority strongly criticised the current administration for revoking the overseas Pakistanis’ ability to vote, some demanded immediate elections.
