Islamabad   -  Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday congratulated the nation on FBR’s achievement of collecting 1,395 billion rupees in first quarter of current fiscal year against the target of 1,211 billion rupees.

In a series of tweets, he said this represents a growth of 38 percent in revenues over the same period last year. In another tweet Prime Minister Imran Khan also shared good news saying the Federal Board of Revenue had successfully launched its Track and Trace System (TTS). He said it will help boost additional revenue, digitise the economy and curb counterfeiting, adding that steps were being taken towards effective and transparent governance. Meanwhile, Prime Minister while chairing a meeting of National Export Development Board on Friday directed the authorities concerned to take all necessary measures to exploit full potential of exports diversification in salt and pharmaceutical sectors.

He reiterated that government was focused on creating business-friendly environment in the country for further strengthening the economy and increasing employment opportunities. The prime minister emphasised that business community should adopt modern technologies to achieve maximum value addition. The prime minister was briefed on the potential of diversification of exports, especially in salt and pharmaceutical sectors. He was told that Pakistan is lucky to be blessed with all types of salt available in the world. These include rock salt, sea salt and lake salt.

With a reserve size of 6.2 billion tons, Khewra Salt Mine is the second largest salt range in the world. Pakistan has also sea salt reserves along 1050 KM long coastline. Almost 60 percent of total 350 million tons global salt consumption is made by the chemical industry.

Meanwhile, talking to a delegation of members of National Youth Council here on Friday, the prime minister stressed upon the significance of youth in development of a country, saying that progress of Pakistan depended on development of the youth. He said the government was ensuring supremacy of merit in the country.

The prime minister said Pakistan was fortunate as the major portion of its population comprises youth. He said talented youth was one of Pakistan’s most valued assets.

Imran Khan said the youth must struggle to achieve success as the hard work is the path that leads to glory. Emphasizing the skill development, the Prime Minister said Pakistan needs to increase the exports of value added goods. He said when the government came to power, Pakistan’s exports stood at only 20 billion dollars. However, the government focused on increasing exports that resulted in an increase by 35 percent in exports.

Special Assistant for Youth Affairs Usman Dar briefed the meeting on the National Youth Council and steps taken for Youth under Kamyab Jawan Program. A comprehensive National Youth Development Framework comprising six thematic areas has been made that is in line with Prime Minister’s vision to empower youth to play the role of a major contributory in national development. While chairing a review meeting on Nullah Lai Expressway in Rawalpind here on Friday, the Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to explore Public Private Partnership (PPP) model to complete this crucial infrastructure project on fast track basis.

The Prime Minister expressed hope that the project will create a lot of employment opportunities for the locals. “It would also generate huge commercial activities that would alleviate poverty by creating a lot of wealth,” he added.

The Prime Minister was briefed that 17 kilometers long Nullah Lai project would offer a very useful alternative route to connect Islamabad’s IJP road with GT Road. A project worth more than Rs 200 billion would protect the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi from flooding by building embankment. It would also resolve waste disposal issues of the two cities by building a trunk sewerage system. Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar, Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab Dr Salman Shah, Chief Secretary Punjab and other senior officers concerned from Punjab joined the meeting via video link. The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Chairman Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority (NAPHDA) Lt-Gen  Anwar Ali Haider.