Says ex-PM wasted army’s efforts; ‘Conducted funeral’ of CPEC; Appeals business community to back govt’s energy saving plan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday alleged that former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan was brought into power with “full force” but did nothing in return and instead “wasted the efforts of the Pakistan Army”.
Talking at the ceremony of the Hazara Electric Supply Company here, the premier maintained that he had nothing to do with and was unconcerned by former Army Chief General (Retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa helping the PTI leader.
The prime minister said that it was Imran’s “misfortune” that he proved to be a failure, despite the fact that the Pakistan army exhausted all its “powers and capabilities” in an effort to ensure the country moves forward and develops.
He said despite enjoying their immense support, the PTI chief was ungrateful to the former military leadership and was instead blaming them.
Calling Imran Khan a “hypocrite”, PM Shehbaz said how Gen (retd) Bajwa helped Imran Khan come into power was not a secret anymore.
In a bid to steer the country out of the crisis, Pakistan’s armed forces and Gen (retd) Bajwa provided all possible support to Imran Khan but he proved a failed prime minister.
Addressing on the occasion, Shehbaz Sharif appealed to the busi Calling Imran Khan a “hypocrite”, PM Shehbaz said how Gen (retd) Bajwa helped Imran Khan come into power was not a secret anymore.
In a bid to steer the country out of the crisis, Pakistan’s armed forces and Gen (retd) Bajwa provided all possible support to Imran Khan but he proved a failed prime minister.
Addressing on the occasion, Shehbaz Sharif appealed to the busi ness community to support the government’s recently announced energy conservation plan marking the early closure of markets and restaurants, to ensure judicious use of national resources and reduce the import bill.
“I appeal to the business community to extend their support to the government (for energy conservation). This will reduce the oil import and bring down the dollar rate which would later be spent on the country’s progress including agriculture and medicine,” the prime minister said.
Covering a total area of over 16,774 square kilometers, the new company would cater to the needs of around 726,000 consumers across Haripur, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Battagram, Torgarh, Kohistan Upper, Kohistan Lower and Kolai Plus.
The prime minister said any difficulty faced by a nation necessitated collective action and expressed the hope that the traders from across the country would take part in this “jihad” to save the national resources.
Referring to his telephonic interaction with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Thursday, the prime minister assured that, unlike its predecessor, the incumbent government would abide by its commitments with IMF without further burdening the masses.
The Prime Minister said an International Monetary Fund delegation was slated to visit Pakistan in 2-3 days to “take up and finalise” the ninth review of the economy to unstick a direly needed bailout tranche of $1.1 billion.
“I spoke to IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva [Thursday] and emphasised that Pakistan wishes to complete the IMF bailout programme,” the premier said.
“I urged her to soften the terms of the deal because the masses cannot be burdened anymore. We have slapped taxes on the rich segments of society,” the premier claimed.
“I also pleaded with her to dispatch a delegation for the 9th review under the loan programme and she replied that IMF officials are scheduled to visit Pakistan in over a couple of days (2-3) days.”
Shehbaz Sharif revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping had approached the International Monetary Fund to help out Pakistan as the country scrambles to revive the loan programme amid deepen
