Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said we will have to go ahead by learning lesson from our past mistakes.
He said this while chairing his government’s first cabinet meeting here Wednesday.
He instructed ministers to prepare for “war” against the challenges the previous government failed to counter i.e poverty, inflation, and unemployment.
In his address to the cabinet, which was aired by state media, Shehbaz stressed on providing ease to the nation, especially the poor segments of the society, through a “thorough and continuous” process of consultation.
“Today is an important day because we have successfully taken office by constitutionally and legally ousting the corrupt PTI government,” he said, thanking his coalition members.
“This coalition is the most extensive one in the history of Pakistan.
“And I have no doubt that despite your political affiliation and struggle, this coalition will work for the people of Pakistan without any personal biases,” he remarked.
The PM cautioned that there were a number of challenges facing the new government such as load shedding, shortage of gas and oil prices. “You will be briefed about all of them with facts so that we can, together, explore the most beneficial measures for the public.”
He revealed that the country was “drowning” in debt and it was the government’s job to “sail this ship ashore”. “Dozens of warehouses and factories are closed due to lack of electricity and gas. We need to immediately find solutions,” he urged, adding that growth, not politics, was the priority for his cabinet right now.
Meanwhile, speaking about provincial issues, the premier said that the focus of the cabinet should be Balochistan. “We need to pay full attention to the problems of the Baloch people and other provinces,” he asserted.
He also warned that there was toxic propaganda being run against the government but vowed to counter it with “real facts”.
The prime minister, moreover, stated that the government’s goal was to end corruption which had peaked during the PTI government. “We need to shed our blood and save this poor nation which is entangled in debt.”
As he concluded his address, Shehbaz took his coalition members into confidence and said that the prime minister’s post was theirs. “This is your struggle, your journey. You have to guide me, you have to advise me. This is the only way we can move forward,” he said.
We will have to learn lesson from our past mistakes and go ahead. Only way to move ahead is work, work and work. You should chage despair into hard work. It is difficult too but not impossible, he reamrked.
