PM urges affluent classes to help change nation’s fate

Shehbaz says unfortunately even smaller countries in the neighbourhood had left Pakistan behind in progress

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday urged the nation, particularly the influential and affluent classes to play their due role to change the nation’s fate through firm resolve and solid actions.

“Where does Pakistan stand today despite passage of 75 years? This is a pinching question… we are moving in a circle all the time… this is now or never,” the prime minister said while addressing the Lawyers Convention in the federal capital.

He said the nation wanted to know as why the Quaid’s dreams remained unfulfilled as millions of the people were faced with poverty in the country today.

He said unfortunately, even the smaller nations as well as the neighbouring countries had achieved immense progress leaving Pakistan behind.

Referring to the massive destruction caused by the floods, the prime minister said hundreds of thousands of the flood-stricken people were about to brave the upcoming harsh cold winters and 0.6 million pregnant women were also compelled to stay in tents.

Shehbaz Sharif said the country was faced with climate-induced destruction.

He told the lawyers community that when the coalition government came into power, the country was at the verge of economic default. However, owing to its untiring efforts, the government had averted the danger of default and provided much-needed economic instability, though inflation was “at its peak”.

Also read: PM Shehbaz reaches flood-hit areas Sohbatpur in Balochistan

He told the gathering that an agreement with the IMF was signed but violated in the past risking the whole programme.

Shehbaz Sharif said the government was devising a strategy to cope with the swelling needs of gas, considering the upcoming winter season. He said the previous government failed to sign a gas purchase agreement when it was available at 3 cents per MMBTU comparing to current 40 cents per MMBTU.

He said the flood water was still causing destruction in Balochistan, leading to the collapse of houses and washing away of crops. He said even the availability of clean drinking water was a challenge for the flood-affected people.

He said the country was rich with immense resources like Sendak and Reko Diq with capable human resources including farmers, engineers and doctors.

“If we make a resolve, Pakistan will emerge a great country. It will not come through speeches, rather through will and action,” the prime minister remarked.

Earlier, the prime minister distributed allotment letters among the senior lawyers for residential plots in a housing project and carried out balloting of plots among the federal government employees.

The prime minister said that those who had got the allotment letters for their residential plots should never forget the flood-stricken people who had lost their dear ones as well as livelihoods.

He said the housing project for the lawyers’ community had been facing a delay; however the incumbent government would ensure its early completion. He said the government would extend maximum support for development of the project.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Housing Minister Maulana Abdul Wasay and President of Supreme Court Bar Association Ahsan Bhoon also addressed the convention.