Premier urges politicians to set aside all differences for sake of country\u2019s economic prosperity
\n Islamabad
\nPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has admitted that the \u201ctough decisions\u201d taken by his government are leading to \u201cinflation and hard conditions\u201d for the common man but is hopeful that there is \u201clight at the end of the tunnel\u201d.
\nThe premier assured the masses of good times ahead in his address during the special Senate session being held in Islamabad on Thursday to celebrate the golden jubilee of the upper house of parliament.
\nHe told the Senate that when the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government took over the economy was facing very difficult challenges. The last government, he said, had signed an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) but did not adhere to its conditions.
\nPakistan is anxiously waiting for confirmation from Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar, as well as from the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, for fulfilling the external financing needs of $6 billion by the end of June 2023.
\n\u201cWe took over through a constitutional instrument and this coalition government faced a very difficult challenge and we had two choices,\u201d PM Shehbaz said, adding that the first option was that the current government could follow the path taken by the Imran Khan-led PTI government.
\n\u201cThe other path was to show the highest level of responsibility, the highest level of maturity and the highest level of statesmanship,\u201d the premier said. The current government, he added, through a consultative process adopted a path which would protect Pakistan.
\n\u201cWe had to take some bold decisions. And the process certainly led to inflation and tough conditions for the common man in Pakistan but we did not shy away from taking those decisions.\u201d
\nHe added that the coalition government \u201csaved the state and sacrificed their politics\u201d.
\n\u201cI have to say that we are going through a difficult period but there is light at the end of the tunnel, provided you are sincere to the cause,\u201d the premier said, adding that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar \u201cis working tirelessly to turn around the economy\u201d.
\nEveryone is human and makes mistakes but it is important that lessons are learnt from those mistakes, he added.
\nIn the past, the premier said, political leadership had sat together many times to find solutions. He cited the example of 2014 when the political leadership united against terrorism. \u201cNations tackle such challenges with a political vision.\u201d
\nPremier Shehbaz said when he was in opposition he had attended the National Assembly session on COVID-19. He added that they listened to his predecessor\u2019s speech but he left without listening to them.
\n\u201cA national leader does not have ego, arrogance, hatred and anger,\u201d he said, lamenting that the law is being flouted today and institutions are being disrespected.
\n\u201cWe were being thrown in jails on baseless charges. No one took the law into their hands unnecessarily,\u201d the prime minister added. I
\nn order to fix the economy, he further said, there is a need for political stability. \u201cIf there is no political stability then economic stability is a dream that cannot be fulfilled.\u201d<\/p>\n
PM Shehbaz also said that Pakistan will secure the IMF tranche but at the same time called for all political leaders to sit together and take important economic decisions. <\/p>\n
\u201cPolitical differences should be left aside and sought-after decisions should be taken. There is still time for us to come to our senses.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Premier urges politicians to set aside all differences for sake of country\u2019s economic prosperity Islamabad Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has admitted that the \u201ctough decisions\u201d taken by his government are leading to \u201cinflation and hard conditions\u201d for the common man but is hopeful that there is \u201clight at the end of the tunnel\u201d. The premier […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":319931,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[210,8727],"class_list":{"0":"post-319911","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news","8":"tag-inflation","9":"tag-pm-shahebaz-sharif"},"yoast_head":"\n