ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif says Pakistan and India should sit down for dialogues on lingering issues for the benefit of their people.
He said this while talking to members of the Pakistan Journalists Forum‚ who called on him at his residence here Saturday to congratulate him on assuming the office for the third time.
Nawaz Sharif said that instead of spending hugely on arms‚ both the countries should focus on investing in social infrastructure for the benefit of our people.
Terming the recently announced Gwadar-Kashghar economic corridor a game changer‚ he said that special industrial zones would be set up in Gwadar to facilitate foreign investment.
The Prime Minister said the development of Gwadar Port and the proposed economic corridor would change the dynamics of the region and expressed hope that the project would help boost economic activities in the region.
He said Gwadar would emerge as the future economic hub of the region and would not only benefit Pakistan but also India‚ Afghanistan and the Central Asian states.
Touching upon the economic problems of the country‚ Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said the foremost priority of his government is to boost economic activities in the country and check the menace of terrorism.
About the energy crisis‚ he said we have carefully studied every possible option and are confident that in the next three or three-and-a-half years we will be in position to meet not only our actual energy demands but will also produce surplus electricity.
He said his government has taken measures to check line losses and electricity theft and those steps had yielded results.
The Prime Minister said his government is making progress on Thar Coal Power Project and focusing on construction of new dams.
Regarding terrorism‚ he said the government is willing to take all measures to check terrorism and root out seeds of sectarianism.
Regarding his recent talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry‚ he said that both sides expressed their concerns in a frank manner. He said that honest handling will help resolve issues.
The prime minister expressed his resolve to make efforts for the restoration of peace in Afghanistan and to help facilitate the Doha peace process.
