Says won’t let Imran ‘ruin Pakistan’
Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has admitted that the “tough decisions” taken by the PDM government is leading to “inflation and tough conditions” for the common man but is hopeful that there is “light at the end of the tunnel”.
The premier assured the masses of good times ahead in his address during the special Senate session held on Thursday to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Upper House of parliament.
The PM told the Senate that when the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government took over the economy was facing very difficult challenges. He reminded that the last government had signed an agreement with the IMF but did not adhere to its conditions.
“We took over through a constitutional instrument and the coalition government faced a very difficult challenge and we had two choices,” said the PM. He added the first option was that the current government could follow the path taken by the Imran Khan-led government.
“The other path was to show highest level of responsibility, highest level of maturity and highest level of statesmanship,” said the PM adding that the current government through a consultative process adopted a path which would protect Pakistan.
“We 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,” said the PM. He said that the coalition government “saved the state and sacrificed their politics”.
“I 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,” said the PM. He added that Ishaq Dar, Finance minister, and his team was working tirelessly to overturn the economy. The PM said that everyone was human and made mistakes but it was important that lessons are learnt from those mistakes.Shehbaz Sharif called for national consensus for addressing the pervading challenges of economic instability and poverty, without letting the situation further deteriorate.
He urged the national political leadership to forge unity for addressing the pervading challenges of economic instability and poverty.
The premier added that in the past many times political leadership had sit together to find solutions. He cited the example of 2014 when the political leadership united against terrorism.
“Nations tackle such challenges with political vision,” said Shehbaz Sharif. The premier said when he was in opposition he had attended the National Assembly session on COVID-19. He added that they listened to his predecessor’s speech but he left without listening to them.
“A national leader does not have ego, arrogance, hatred and anger,” said Shehbaz. He lamented that the law was being flouted today and institutions are being disrespected.
The prime minister said that, during the time of the PTI government, opposition leaders were implicated in false cases, but they neither uttered a word against the institutions nor violated the laws.
“If there is no political stability then economic stability is a dream that cannot be fulfilled,” said the PM Shehbaz Sharif assured the people that Pakistan will secure the IMF tranche but called for all political leaders to sit together and take important economic decisions.
