ISLAMABAD: The government has achieved 4.14 per cent GDP growth “due to its better policies” and was eying to raise it to 5.1pc during this fiscal year, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday.

Chairing a meeting of the Monetary and Fiscal Policies Coordination Board Dar said all inflation indicators were on a downward trajectory.

The headline inflation for October was the lowest during the last 17 months at 5.8pc, he remarked.

The minister said the LSM sector grew by 5.3pc in August this year compared to 4.6pc last year.

Workers’ remittances were also showing remarkable results, he said, adding that FBR tax collections were on track as tax revenue increased by 13.1pc during the first quarter of FY15.

The stock market was also performing well, he said, referring to the KSE-100 index breaching 31,000 mark on Monday.

The minister also underlined the importance of resolving energy issues hampering the country’s growth.

Others who attended included Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Federal Commerce Minister, Governor SBP, Secretary Finance, Director IBA Dr Ishrat Hussain and Pakistan Institute of Development Economics Vice-Chancellor Dr Asad Zaman.

LNG import: In a separate meeting on LNG, Dar was informed that the Liquefied Natural Gas import would start in March 2015.

The LNG would preferably be made available to efficient power plants providing a boost to overall power generation in the country and helping reduce power prices, the minister was informed.

Dar said that by the given date LNG imports should be ensured and all related arrangements should be finalised.

Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif, Federal Minister for P&NR Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir and others were also present.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2014