Islamabad (Web Desk): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Thursday announced that the government has imposed a ban import of non-essential and luxury items to control inflation, stabilize foreign exchange reserves, strengthen economy and reduce country's reliance on imports.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the minister said that ban has been imposed on luxury imported items, including vehicles, mobile phones, home appliances, dry and fresh fruits, crockery, private weapons, decoration items, preserved and frozen food items, sanitary where, doors and windows, beauty and confectionary items.
She said that the government is working on an emergency fiscal plan and economic management and annual impact of these steps will be around $6 billion.
Marriyum said it will also help reduce Current Account Deficit.
"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, adding that a plan is also being prepared to promote local manufacturers so that people will be provided employment opportunities.
The information minister said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is making strenuous efforts to provide relief to the common people.
"Those, who are questioning the performance of a four-week government, should be ashamed of this approach," Marriyum said, adding that the dollar rate was Rs115 when Pakistan Muslim-League (PML-N) left the government in 2018, while the ousted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government took this price to Rs189.
She said it was former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who successfully completed the International Monetary Fund (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.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said the government is also taking measures to improve energy situation in the country.
Responding to a question, the minister said that 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.
List of banned items
1. Mobile phones
2. Home appliances
3Fruits and dry fruits (except from Afghanistan)
4. Crockery
5. Private weapons and ammunition
6. Shoes
7. Chandeliers and lighting (except energy savers)
8. Headphones and loudspeakers
9. Sauces, ketchup etc.
10. Doors and window frames
11. Travelling bags and suitcases
12. Sanitary ware
13. Fish and frozen fish
14. Carpets (except from Afghanistan)
15. Preserved fruits
16. Tissue paper
17.Furniture
18. Shampoos
19. Automobiles
20. Confectionary
21. Luxury mattresses and sleeping bags
22. Jams and Jelly
23. Cornflakes
24. Bathroom ware / toiletries
25. Heaters / blowers
26. Sunglasses
27. Kitchen ware
28. Aerated water
29. Frozen meat
30. Juices
31. Pasta etc.
32. Ice cream
33. Cigarettes
34. Shaving goods
35. Luxury leather apparel
36. Musical instruments
37. Saloon items like hair dryers etc.
38. Chocolates