ISLAMABAD, Sept 13: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday emphasised on the eminent economists and members of the academia to engage in an active dialogue for finding solutions to major economic problems.

In a meeting with the participants of the first round-table of the Planning Commission’s Panel of Economists who called on him at the PM House, Mr Gilani said the government was taking bold initiatives and seeking out of the box solutions to face the pressures on economic front which include rising inflation and low economic growth.

The prime minister welcomed the setting up of the panel at a time when the economy was faced with serious challenges.

He said the government was committed to protecting the poor and vulnerable groups.

Mr Gilani expressed the confidence that the panel would assist the government in formulating policy response in key areas by identifying structural changes for sustained growth, transforming the economy to production-led growth, investment, prioritising sectors for economic growth especially agriculture sector, best utilisation of available resources, attracting private investment and encouraging public-private partnership in infrastructure development.

He also emphasised the importance of health and education sectors being the basis of future economic development and most effective ways of assisting the poor in improving their living standards.

The round-table was informed that the Planning Commission was being converted into a knowledge commission where the best minds of the country could debate and discuss the pressing economic challenges.

Task forces have been set up on food security, energy, science and technology, infrastructure, social sector and climate change.

The panel comprising the brains in the economic field was holding a two-day round-table to advise on how best the country can regain macroeconomic stability with respectable growth in the most efficient and equitable manner.

Dr Hafeez A. Pasha, chairman of the panel, pledged his best to the nation saying that the panel comprises representatives from all the provinces and will work in close coordination with the Economic Advisory Council.

Other members of the advisory panel included Dr Rashid Amjad (Convener), Dr Akmal Hussain, Dr Akhtar Hassan Khan, Dr Naveed Hamid, Dr Riazuddin, Dr Kaiser Bengali, Dr Qazi Masood Ahmed, Dr Ali Cheema, Haris Gazdar, Dr Asad Sayeed, Dr Toseef Ahmed, Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha, Dr Faisal Bari, Dr Naseer Ali Khan, Dr Saqib Sherani and Dr Rehana Siddiqui.

Ehtisham Ahmed of the IMF and Ijaz Nabi of the World Bank also attended the round-table.

State Bank of Pakistan Governor Dr Shamshad Akhtar, secretary finance, secretary water and power, secretary economic affairs, secretary commerce, secretary food and agriculture, secretary industries, acting secretary petroleum and the Wapda chairman also attended the meeting.