ISLAMABAD: British High Commissioner, Phillip Barton had a meeting with the Finance Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar here Tuesday and had an exchange of views on funding by DFID for socio-economic projects.
The minister apprised Mr. Barton about the budgetary allocations for the Income Support Programme as well as the planned increase in the number of its beneficiaries. He added that the Programme reached out to the most deserving segments of the society and, in the last two years, a large number of families had benefitted from it.
Philip Barton on this occasion re-affirmed British government’s continued support, under DFID arrangements, for socio-economic development in Pakistan.
The High Commissioner at the outset felicitated the Minister on the successful conclusion of the 9th IMF Review. He said it was another example of the growing confidence of international financial institutions in Pakistan’s economic stability. He added that gains made in the economic sector and improvement in the security environment have been well received by the British investors.
Minister Dar appreciated DFID’s support and assistance for development activities in the country and said that during the tenure of Mr. Philip Barton, Pak-UK economic cooperation had constantly been on the rise. He hoped that both sides would make all possible efforts to keep up the momentum of this cooperation.
Senior officials of the Ministry of Finance, BISP and the British High Commission attended the meeting.
