Economy growing despite numerous challenges; CPEC to benefit Pakistan and region
\nNews Desk
\nISLAMABAD
\nPrime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said that former president Pervez Musharraf wanted to do an underhand deal in 2007, which he turned down at that time.
\nThe PM was addressing a Pakistan Muslime League-Nawaz parliamentary leaders\u2019 session. He said that the ex-military ruler sent an indirect message that he is interested in solving issues. The premier said that he doesn\u2019t believe in clandestine deals. He said that he was made to leave Pakistan during bad times and wasn\u2019t allowed to come back too.
\n\u201cNow Musharraf can\u2019t come back to Pakistan, this is retribution,\u201d he added. During the meeting, matters pertaining to the political situation, development projects, and parliamentary affairs were discussed.
\nThe PM said that the current tenure is tricky, although all the challenges were accepted.
\nSenators also demanded development funds in the session. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister for Petroleum ShahidKhaqanAbbasi also gave a briefing. He said that some people are politically immature. \u201cThey are not stopping us but the country from progressing,\u201d he said.
\nDefence Minister KhawajaAsif, in the session, said that production of electricity will start soon from Neelum-Jhelum and other projects.
\nSenior political analyst Hamir Mir spoke to media on the subject. He said that he would avoid using the word \u2018deal\u2019 as Musharraf did try to \u2018meet\u2019 Nawaz around that time.
\nMir said that in 2006, instead Nawaz Sharif and late Benazir Bhutto signed Charter of Democracy, following which Musharraf wanted to contact at least one of them.
\nHe said that the former military leader could not meet Nawaz at that time. Had that happened, there would have been no National Reconciliation Ordinance.
\nPrime Minister said that Pakistan\u2019s economy has witnessed a positive turnaround and is fast growing in the face of numerous challenges inherited by his government in 2013.
\nHe said speedy work was underway on various projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which once completed, would immensely benefit the country in particular and the region in general.
\n\u201cPakistan of 2017 is very different from that of 2013,\u201d he said, adding that his government initiated megaenergy and infrastructure projects to address the issue of power shortages and increase connectivity in Pakistan.
\n\u201cOur government has overcome the issue of power shortage to a great extent and load shedding will be part of history by the year 2018. We are massively investing in motorways, highways and other infrastructure projects as well,\u201d a press release of the PM Office media wing quoted him as saying.
\nThe independent and credible financial institutions of the world, he said, recognised that Pakistan\u2019s economy was stabilising and on the right path of growth.
\nThe prime minister said, \u201cWe have ensured complete transparency in the execution of the projects and have never compromised on principles.\u201d
\nThe dividends and benefits of those projects would reach to all parts and people of Pakistan, he added.
\nThe prime minister said the overall law and order situation of the country, especially in Karachi and Balochistan, had greatly improved under his government which paid special attention to the development of Balochistan.
\nFinance Minister Ishaq Dar briefed the meeting on financial stability and economic growth achieved by the government during the last four years.
\nMinister for Railways KhawajaSaadRafiq highlighted the projects and performance of Pakistan Railways while citing data, which demonstrated a great increase in resources, profit, and freight and passengers business since 2013.
\nMinister for Petroleum and Natural Resources ShahidKhaqanAbbasi gave a briefing on energy projects while Minister for Water & Power KhawajaAsif informed the participants on the achievements of his ministry during the last four years.
\nSecretary to the Prime Minister FawadHasanFawad briefed the participants on Sustainable Development Goals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Economy growing despite numerous challenges; CPEC to benefit Pakistan and region News Desk ISLAMABAD Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said that former president Pervez Musharraf wanted to do an underhand deal in 2007, which he turned down at that time. The PM was addressing a Pakistan Muslime League-Nawaz parliamentary leaders\u2019 session. He said that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15064,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-15063","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n