ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan army on Monday vowed to support the federal government in its newly announced economic revival plan and embraced its role in uplifting the IT, agriculture, mining and defense production sectors of the country.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced his government’s economic revival scheme, including setting up a Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to attract foreign investment, particularly from Gulf nations.

A notification dated June 17 from the Prime Minister’s Office said SIFC was being set up after a meeting on June 2 to discuss attracting investments in energy, IT, minerals, defense and agriculture from GCC countries.

The military will have a significant role in the new body, with the army chief being a member of its apex committee and the army itself serving as the national coordinator for both the apex and executive committees. An army official will also be the director general of the body’s implementation committee.

“The forum was also apprised about the Government’s economic revival plan and role of Army in uplifting agriculture, IT, mining & mineral and defense production sectors under the ambit of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC),” the army said in a statement after a meeting of its top commanders.

“The participants vowed to fully support the strategic initiatives planned by the Government of Pakistan for the revival of the economy by providing all possible technical and management support for the overall good of the people of Pakistan.”

At a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office on SIFC earlier this month, Army Chief Asim Munir “assured Pakistan Army’s all out support to complement Government’s efforts for Economic Revival Plan, considered fundamental to socio-economic prosperity of Pakistanis and reclaiming Pakistan’s rightful stature among the comity of nations.”