Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has reiterated that the general elections will take place in Pakistan on the 8th of next month. In an exclusive interview with CNBC on the sidelines of World Economic Forum in Davos, he said this is a constitutional requirement and everyone in the country is committed to that particular date. He said the people of Pakistan will have a choice to exercise their right to vote and they will elect a government for the next five years. He said the elections will lead towards a stable government which will translate into economic stability. When asked about the economic situation, the prime minister said that the IMF Board had approved second tranche for the country. He said it had been priority of the caretaker government to bring economic revival and focus on growth and other economic indicators.

Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said they will also publish a white paper on the four to five month's performance of the caretaker government. The prime minister said his government did introduce a revamped program within the taxation system. He said government went for an aggressive privatisation spree and cut expenditures at the federal level. PM Kakar said, "We are also engaging with the provinces so that they can also rationalise their spending." Responding to a question, the caretaker prime minister emphasised the need for a regional approach to deal with the challenge of terrorism. "We need to enhance the capacity of counter terrorism," he said. He said Pakistan was a mid-sized power and its actual potential and role needed to be appreciated. When asked about relations with China, Kakar said Pakistan enjoyed strategically close relations with Beijing. He said, "No matter what happens in the region or anywhere else, nothing can affect our relationship with China.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)