ISLAMABAD: General Asim Munir on Monday reiterated the army’s “all-out support” for the interim government to “rehabilitate the economy” and continue policies to “lead Pakistan towards development and prosperity”.
This assurance was given during the 4th Apex Committee meeting of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
The meeting was presided over by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar, which was attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Munir, Federal Cabinet members, Interim Chief Ministers, Provincial Ministers and high level government officials. In the meeting, SIFC’s initiatives involving progress in important sectors were thoroughly reviewed.
In a high-level flurry, Caretaker Prime Minister Kakar ordered the acceleration of “identity projects” taking advantage of an enabling environment that he believes has been achieved by SIFC.
The caretaker prime minister appreciated the effective functioning of SIFC through a collaborative “whole-of-government approach” to achieve horizontal and vertical coordination.
On the other hand, the committee appreciated SIFC’s outreach strategy and ongoing engagement with brotherly and friendly countries to gain global attention, including fruitful visits by high-level delegations from Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Organization for Food Security.
The Committee expressed confidence in SIFC’s initiatives and expressed its commitment and support in maintaining the positive momentum towards recovery of the country’s economy. He also endorsed the projects approved by the Shahbaz Sharif-led government to attract investment in the key sectors of agriculture, livestock, mining, minerals, IT and energy.
What is SIFC?
Last month, during his final days, former prime minister Shehbaz formed the SIFC to spur the government’s efforts to revive the economy. The committee is headed by the Prime Minister and includes the Army Chief and senior federal ministers.
The formation of the SIFC was announced after the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government unveiled a comprehensive “economic revitalization plan” aimed at harnessing Pakistan’s untapped potential in key sectors, accelerating development projects. And making investment easier.
The project was unveiled in Islamabad during a high-level meeting chaired by then Prime Minister Shehbaz in which Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Chief Ministers, Federal and Provincial Ministers and other high-level government officials participated.
I have fervently advocated a unified approach to steer the country out of the economic challenges on a path to sustainable growth. Employing a whole-of-the-the-government approach, the coalition government has decided to set up a Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC)…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 21, 2023
According to the notification, the SIFC is a three-tier structure consisting of an apex, executive committee and implementing committees.
Prime Minister, Federal Ministers (Planning, Finance, IT and Telecom, Food Security, Power, Water Resources, Industry and Production, Defence, Defense Production and Investment), Army Chief, all Chief Ministers, National Coordinator in this apex body. (Pakistan Army) and serves as the Secretary of the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister.
However, the Executive Committee consists of Minister of Planning, National Coordinator (Pakistan Army), Federal Ministers (Defence, Food Security, IT and Telecom and Power), Ministers of State (Petroleum and Finance), Provincial Ministers (Agriculture, Mines and Minerals). contain. IT, Energy, Board of Revenue, Irrigation, Finance, Planning and Development and Investment, SAPM, Chief Secretaries, Director General (Pakistan Army), Secretary Board of Investment.
