Shehbaz Sharif says PTI’s policies led country to default but Pakistan now moving towards stability due to team work. PM attends US president’s reception. Says Pakistan, US to enhance cooperation in key areas.
LONDON - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Saturday that the collective efforts by all the stakeholders in the government had put Pakistan on the path of economic stability and progress and called for further strenuous efforts and sacrifices to achieve the economic objectives. During a media interaction, the prime minister elaborated that during their previous tenure of sixteen months in the government, they faced the financial challenges but with collective efforts, they saved Pakistan from running into default.
Earlier, the prime minister arrived from New York where he had addressed the plenary meeting of the UN General Debate at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
In a veiled reference to previous government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), he said the former party’s policies led the country to default, but ‘with grace of Allah Almighty and with their collective efforts, Pakistan is now moving towards stability and progress. The international institutions also acknowledged it’.
The prime minister also expressed his satisfaction over the approval of $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) extended fund facility.
Comparing last year’s 32 percent spiraling inflation rate, he said now the price hike stood at 9.6 percent, adding the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had also reduced the interest rate while the rates of daily commodities were showing stability.
Prime Minister Sharif said the inflation rate had nosedived but still “Everything is not a hunky-dory. We have to sweat hard and broaden the tax net without burdening those already paying it.”
He said the common people had always sacrificed for the country. Now, it was time for the elite to sacrifice for the country and play their part in the country’s progress.
The prime minister thanked the brotherly countries particularly the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and time-tested friend China for their support in securing the IMF programme and said that without their support, it would not have been possible.
“I particularly thank them for their support to steer Pakistan out of economic straits” he said and commended the efforts of ministers of finance, foreign affairs, secretary finance, officials and ambassadors who made efforts in this regard. The prime minister lauded the chief of army staff for his efforts in achieving the IMF programme and said that the COAS had visited the brotherly countries which provided critical economic relief to Pakistan.
Terming it a ‘team Pakistan’s work’, he expressed the hope that the IMF’s programme would be the last one as the 240 million people and the government’s efforts would accomplish it successfully.
He stressed that they would have to reduce their expenditures and strive to provide amenities to the public at their doorsteps. “Time has come to work hard and uphold merit which should be their hallmarks.”
The prime minister also reiterated his call for a ‘charter of economy’.
About his participation in the UNGA annual session, he highlighted that he had held useful meetings with different leaders of various countries including the UK, Bangladesh, Türkiye, Kuwait and others which would help to further foster their bilateral and brotherly ties.
“I have made a humble effort to convey voice of the people of Pakistan to the world over Palestine and Gaza where more than 40,000 people including children had been martyred,” he said, adding that gruesome Israeli attacks continued on Beirut which was strongly condemned by Pakistan.
The prime minister said that in his speech, he had reiterated the call for immediate ceasefire and stressed upon the international community to wake up and work for an immediate independent Palestinian state with pre 1967 borders, besides stressed for its representation in the UN.
He said that he also apprised the session of the grave situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) where the Kashmiri people had been fighting for their legitimate rights and shedding bloodshed. They had been facing brute aggression and violence by the Indian illegal occupation forces.
Modi’s government with its unilateral and illegal steps had deprived IIOJK of its special status which was violation of the respective UN resolutions and other global human rights calls. Terror and aggression in IIOJK should end and the Kashmiri people should be given the right to hold plebiscite to independence, he added.
The prime minister, without naming PTI, also termed the9th May riots targeting Jinnah’s House, GHQ and showing disrespect for the martyrs’ graves as ‘an unpardonable act’.
He also expressed his optimism that Pakistan would soon become an ‘Asian Tiger’ as pronounced by his leader and former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif whose efforts had put Pakistan on path of rapid progress and economic stability. He regretted that Nawaz Sharif’s governments were removed through conspiracies.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended a reception hosted by United States President Joe Biden in the honor of the heads of government participating in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session. President Biden and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met during the reception.
Both the leaders expressed good wishes for each other. The heads of state of other countries also attended the dinner.
“Pakistan and the United States have reaffirmed their common desire to enhance cooperation in key areas including trade, investment, technology and climate action.” This was stated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a post on his X handle after attending a reception in New York hosted by US President Joe Biden in honour of the heads of state and government participating in the United Nations General Assembly session. The prime minister said his brief meeting with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden during the reception was most warm and cordial.
