Express News screengrab of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif speaking at the 37th Export Awards ceremony in Lahore.
LAHORE: Problems we are facing today are a result of bad policies that were made in the past, said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif .
"The energy crisis started during [former president Pervez] Musharraf's rule," Nawaz stated, adding that former president Asif Ali Zardari's government should have worked to solve that problem.
Speaking at the 37th Export Awards ceremony in Lahore, Nawaz said that if better policies had been made in the past, we would not be suffering from problems like terrorism and sectarian killings.
"I have given Federal Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan the target of doubling exports," the premier said.
"I know exports cannot be doubled within a year. Dastagir knows this and even you know that this is not possible, but whats the harm in saying it?” he joked, eliciting laughter and applause from the audience.
Nawaz added that if exports do not double, then they should increase by at least 50 percent.
COMMENTS (33)
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@Para Chinar:
I hv no love for Gen M or for that matter any of the politicians,yet all seem to be obsessed with Gen Musharraf...why ? why only him ? why not remember Gen Zia who did similar crime & a more crime of hanging a democratically elected leader ZAB...Gen Zia ruled for 11 years & his rule has been dubbed by all as the darkest period, who fought too for the Americans, made million Afghans as refugees, gave them refuge in our own country who brought alongwith them Kalashnikov culture, drugs, Jihadis, allowed to operate thousands Madrasass unchecked...churning out even today millions jihadis / extremists and the list can go on, yet many of us put all blame on Gen Musharraf...very sad......wahthas Asghar Khan case exposed ? NS etc; was also beneficiary of money dished out by ISI & the SC authorized / ordered the last govt of PPP to investigate...DONE ? all muk muka ? khuda ka khauf kare hum sab....why blame anyone in particular, we are all corrupt ourselves first....we have corrupted the whole system , consequently, the whole society...TV Program SARE Aam has not opened our eyes...we do not need any suicide bombers, we are ourselves one....for Gods sake look into our own hearts first before shifting blame on to others....
@Ahmed Ali Khan: Since you show unqualified allegiance to a despot who did much harm to Pakistan by subverting democracy, how is your intelligence any better?
@Para Chinar: Let me add: Given Musharraf's subversion of the State and the Constitution of Pakistan no discerning patriotic Pakistani should give blind loyalty to the dictator demi-god. And, this has no reference to NS or Asif Zardari.
@Ahmed Ali Khan: Given Musharraf's subversion of the State and the Constitution of Pakistan no discerning patriotic Pakistani should give blind loyalty to the dictator/demagogue/demi-god. And, this has no reference to NS or Asif Zardari.
@Rex Minor: Pakistan needs your assistance to gestalt its future. Please volunteer and we shall welcome you to Pakistan. Thanks.
@Ch. Allah Daad:
Dont make Pakistanis Laugh! I have to begin doubts about your intelligence.
@Para Chinar:
Your comment is based on disinformation and biased. Research more and keep your facts straight. Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are getting more dollars in the name of coalition fund. The fact of the matter is business can run own business but incompetant to run the country. Their only purpose to come in the Govt is to expand his business empire and ignore what the people needs are.
wrong , u r equally responsible as friendly opposition n allowing loots to immediate past rulers by wrong power generation implementation, pay full payment to the capacity of electiric generating capacity , if generate or not generate,expensive rental and use of expense fuel. so u r first liable, now you start looting privatisation as u did in 1998/99
Long live kleptocracy.
With PM's pro trade policy and efforts for establishment of peace, I have high hopes. Current situation is bad enough and only way is up.
Mr. NS and his brother Mr. SS are nothing more than Double Shahs who are now again looting the country through privatizing institutions to their favorites. They have already done it twice and this is their last chance so be careful people and media are watching you Sir.
Blaming the past, joking about the future, taking hunting vacations while the country is busy 'negotiating' with militants hellbent on destroying the constitution. These people don't deserve to be the leaders of a backward village, let alone an entire nation of over 180 million people.
We believe in Mian Sahib's vision and wisdom.
@ Saleem Barbarians always negotiate with their same class. They are least bothered of its outcome. NS and his Rufaqa have already placed all its important industrial and commercial assets on SALE Would it not be the worst scenairo compairing with as you stated " Negotiation with the barbarians would go down the history books as one of the most humiliating defeat accepted by government ! "
I used to be PML supporter but supported IK in last election. I still think we should have given chance to IK. He had, and he still has intention and team to do some good to our Country. Problem of corruption is not just at elite level, it is at every level. We curse Govt but we, ourselves don't change. We cannot even follow traffic signals for crying out loud...how can we expect to do any thing else. Let's change ourselves first then bring change by giving Imran a chance. He may not be very good, but for sure, will be step in right direction.
It's time to quit blaming others and just do your job. . Your energy crisis has always been a financial crisis which is why nobody has a ready fix. The IMF and others have suggested that your raise taxes, cut down spending, and re-prioritize where you spend your money - that''s something that is politically unacceptable and why you haven't made any substantive progress.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan statement, one can attribute to his hindsight, which most world leaders have. Pakistan however needs a leader who has the foresight, a leader with a vision and the ability to (gestalt) shape, design and undertake reforms in its domestic and foreign policies.
Rex Minor.
Pakistan has only itself to blame for the situation it is in. Can a mediocre economy like Pakistan afford such a large military? Pakistan's Generals are probably the richest in the world. They have a lifestyle of sheikhs.
Agreed!
Mr. Nawaz was sleeping when PPP was ruling
or let me rephrase
Must be waiting for his turn, as more the state suffered from the rule of PPP the easier it became for PMLN to take the Goverment.
Cheers! Pak Politics and democracy.
A business cartel cannot be in the government. Lest be the head of an state. This is not possible in the west.
Hoodwinking the people. People cannot be fooled anymore. First tell us about the discrepancies and foul play planned in the sell-off of the profit making OGDCL, PARCO and scores of other public enterprises, and about the 'Mansha' factor. It is not the business of the government to run business through sons, nephews, and other relatives. It is called conflict of interest.
you were part of the problem, because of your friendly opposition attitude.....even today, as per your election manifesto, your party in power has not yet initiated any corruption cases against last govt, which you n your brother SS were so vocal about...
Problems like energy crises, terrorism, sectarianism got roots in Musharraf era.
The world worst dictatorship, elite class democracy, worst corrupt bureaucracy and world worst capitalism system has destroyed the country, its integrity, faith, sovereignty and has spoiled Pakistan generations of generations.
All this Talks with Talibans are just to keep people engaged in it as well as the Media....and under this guise sell the public corporations to his henchmen...just like in the case of the MCB. What the judiciary and the media is doing. Loot sale is on.
In the MCB privatization, reports are now surfacing about the kickbacks Mian brothers received in the whole privatization process. Too many question marks now on the integrity and fair dealing on the government now. Hope the family silver in the form of government enterprises will not be sold to his favorites and for peanuts. They belong to the people of Pakistan and not any close relative of PMLN.
In the LCCI speech, Nawaz said it is not the duty of the government to run business, hotels and factories...quite ironic, It is also not the business of the factory owners, cartels, business group to run and form a government. It is just not possible in democracy and even in Islam that a business cartel with all the vested interest in now in the government in Pakistan. God help Pakistan in coming days.