Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that the PML-N led government has decided to ban import of non-essential and luxury items to bring rising inflation down and build up foreign exchange reserves.

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The minister made this announcement while peaking to a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday evening.

She maintained that this measure would strengthen economy and reduce the country’s reliance on imports.

Marriyum added that the imports of vehicles, mobile phones, home appliances, dry and fresh fruits, crockery, private weapons, decoration items, preserved and frozen food items, sanitary, doors and windows, beauty and confectionary items had banned.

The Minister said the government is working on an emergency fiscal plan and economic management and annual impact of these steps will be around six billion dollars. She said it will also help reduce Current Account Deficit.  She said the prime objective of these measures are aimed at reducing reliance on imports and introduce export oriented policy to promote local industry in the country. She said a plan is also being prepared to promote local manufacturers so that people will be provided employment opportunities.

The Minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is making strenuous efforts to provide relief to the common people. She said those, who are questioning the performance of a four-week government, should be ashamed of this approach. She said the dollar rate was 115 rupees when PML-N left the government, while the last government of PTI took this price to 189 rupees.  She said it was former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who successfully completed the IMF programme in 2015 and included Pakistan in global emerging markets. She said the last government gave unfunded subsidy on petroleum products to paralyse Pakistan’s economy.

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Marriyum Aurangzeb said the government is also taking measures to improve energy situation in the country.

Answering a question, Marriyum Aurangzeb said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will address to the nation in a couple of days. She also made no-one can give deadline for elections, except the government, after consultation with its allies. She said anyone talking of a bloody march should keep it in mind that the law will not spare such elements.

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