Davos, Switzerland – Interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has reiterated that general elections will be held in Pakistan on the 8th of next month.
In an exclusive interview with CNBC on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, he said it was a constitutional requirement and everyone in the country was committed to that particular date.
He said that the people of Pakistan will have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote and will elect the government for the next five years. He said the election would lead to a stable government which would translate into economic stability.
Asked about the economic situation, the prime minister said that the IMF board had approved the country’s second tranche. He said the interim government’s priority was to bring economic recovery and focus on growth and other economic indicators.
Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said that he will also release a white paper on the interim government’s four-to-five-month performance.
Also read: KP seeks more security personnel ahead of general elections
The prime minister said that his government had introduced a revised program within the tax system. He said the government had gone into aggressive privatization and cut spending at the federal level. Prime Minister Kakar said, “We are also working with the provinces so that they can also rationalize their expenditure.”
In response to a question, the caretaker prime minister emphasized the need for a regional approach to solving the problem of terrorism.
“We need to strengthen the capacity to fight terrorism,” he said. He said that Pakistan is a middle power and its true potential and role should be appreciated.
Asked about relations with China, Kakar said that Pakistan has strategically close relations with Beijing. He said: “No matter what happens in the region or anywhere else, nothing can affect our relationship with China.
