ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that his government successfully addressed multiple challenges particularly in the field of economy and foreign policy during a short span of time besides launching several public welfare projects.
While giving a round-up of his 16-month rule in a Tweet, he said that the Pakistan Demotic Movement (PDM) government successfully averted the looming threat of economic default.
The prime minister noted with satisfaction that Pakistan revived its trust with the brotherly Countries including China, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates (UAE) and emerged as a responsible member of international community.
The prime minister said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has not only been put back on track but its second phase has also started.
Furthermore, he said that the PDM government successfully overcame the challenge of rehabilitation of flood affected areas and Pakistan’s leading role in efforts to tackle climate change led to the establishment of international Loss and Damage Fund.
Shahbaz Sharif said that the coalition government has laid strong foundations for development of agriculture, IT, minerals, energy and other selected sectors through the establishment of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
The prime minister called for focusing on structural reforms to strengthen economy.
میری تجویز پر قومی اسمبلی تحلیل ہونے کے بعد وفاقی کابینہ کا وجود ختم ہو گیا ہے۔ عدم اعتماد کے آئینی عمل کے ذریعے اتحادی حکومت کے اقتدار سنبھالنے کے بعد سے گزشتہ 16 ماہ کا جائزہ لے کر قوم کے ساتھ اپنا نکتہ نظر بیان کرنا ضروری سمجھتا ہوں۔
جمہوری ارتقاء کا ایک عمل:
جن سیاسی… https://t.co/POEdnLdjnX
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) August 10, 2023
The following is the full text of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s Tweet about his 16-month rule;
“At the end of government’s tenure, it is apt for me to take stock of the last sixteen months since the coalition government assumed office through the constitutional process of no-confidence and share my perspective with the nation.
1: An exercise in democratic evolution
The political parties that formed the government have different political manifestos & agendas. Despite being political rivals, we chose to come together on a national agenda shared and owned by us all. The last sixteen months saw how decision-making by consensus became the norm. I consider it a major step forward in our democratic evolution.
2: Challenges
Among the crises that challenged me personally, giving me many sleepless nights was saving the country from the threat of default in particular and stabilizing the economy in general. I would never have forgiven myself had such a scenario (God forbid) come to pass during my time in office. We have yet to fully grasp the consequences of the country defaulting on its international obligations.
Secondly, restoring Pakistan’s prestige, honour and credibility as a reliable partner, and friend in the comity of nations was another challenge that we dealt with collectively. Thanks to our collective efforts, Pakistan has largely repaired the damage and emerged as a responsible member of the international community. We have revived our trust with our brotherly countries including China, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE, etc. CPEC has not only been put back on track but the second phase is also underway.
The most devastating floods in our history posed significant challenges to our struggling economy in terms of losses in man and material. As part of its climate diplomacy, the government undertook a massive international effort to project Pakistan as a victim of climate change. We also mobilized gigantic rescue, relief and rehabilitation through our own resources. As Chair of G-77 plus China, Pakistan led a global effort to demand climate justice. Our leading role also galvanized international response and led to the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP27. Millions of dollars of international aid was spent most transparently.
3: SIFC – The way forward
SIFC established under a collaborative approach has prioritized five key areas of national economy, namely agriculture, information technology, mine and minerals, defence production and energy. This institutional arrangement that has representation of all stakeholders, offers One-Window facility to fetch foreign investment to unlock the potential in the select areas. SIFC is an economic revival plan that has been carefully thought through and is being implemented under the-whole-of-the-government approach.
What has kept me under tremendous stress during these sixteen months is the heavy cost a combination of factors such as the conditionalities of the IMF program, skyrocketing commodity prices in international markets and geopolitical upheavals has placed on the poor people of Pakistan. While the government has tried to lessen their burden, I feel their pain and anguish. Coupled with extreme polarization in society and emerging security threats, the odds couldn’t be heavier for any government.
Time has come for Pakistan to end the ‘boom and bust’ cycle of the economy by focusing on structural reforms. I am convinced that no quick-fixes will work anymore. If the people of Pakistan elect the PML–N, we will make sure that the country follows the people-led growth model, one where their welfare is the be-all and end-all of public policy. Our economic revolution will be rooted in harnessing the youth potential by providing them cutting-edge tech education leading to massive job creation; and promoting modern agro industry.
Work, work and work alone shows us the way forward.”
