Politicians urge reset of priorities in 2023

PM says outgoing year was ‘tough for Pakistan’; Imran blames govt all troubles in last year

ISLAMABAD:

The political leadership of the country welcomed 2023 with pledges of resetting the national priorities in order to achieve prosperity in the New Year, as the country passed a tough year fraught with economic, political and environmental challenges.

President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and several ministers and politicians took to various social media platforms to greet the nation a Happy New Year and prayed for the development, progress and prosperity of Pakistan.

In his message shared on Twitter, the president reminded the nation that the country faced various challenges last year but “overcame difficult situations” with hard work, sacrifice, determination and resilience”. “In the new year, as a nation, we must set our priorities correctly to overcome the challenges facing the nation,” he added.

صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کا سال 2023ء کے آغاز پر قوم کےنام پیغام

سال 2023ء کے آغاز پر پوری پاکستان قوم اور عالمی برادری کو مبارکباد پیش کرتا ہوں، صدر مملکت

اللہ تعالیٰ اس سال کو پاکستان، پاکستانی قوم، عالم ِ اسلام اور ساری دنیا کیلئے باعث رحمت و برکت بنائی، صدر مملکت pic.twitter.com/99t6ZeCR35

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) January 1, 2023

The president further said that Pakistan needed national solidarity, unity, discipline, persistent hard work, passion and dedication to making the country prosperous, developed, democratic and stable.In his separate message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also said that 2022 was “a tough year for Pakistan”. However, he hoped that the New Year would prove to be the year of ending hunger, war, terrorism, crime, sectarianism and class division from the whole world, including Pakistan.

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“The worst flooding in history aggravated our economic challenges. My resolve for the New Year is to use my energy & time to get people out of difficulties, rehabilitate flood victims & put Pakistan on the path to growth & stability,” the prime minister added.

2022 was yet another tough year for Pakistan. The worst flooding in history aggravated our economic challenges. My resolve for the New Year is to use my energy & time to get people out of difficulties, rehabilitate flood victims & put Pakistan on the path to growth & stability.

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 1, 2023

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb wished the nation a “happy New Year” and prayed that “2023 proves to be a salve for the wounds of humanity, get rid of inflation, terrorism, injustice, lies and hatred”.

نیا سال مبارک ہو۔خدا کرے 2023 مسائل کی ستائی انسانیت کے زخموں پر مرہم ثابت ہو،مہنگائی، دہشت گردی،ظلم وناانصافی، جھوٹ اور نفرت سے نجات ہو،خوشی، ترقی اور خوشحالی کی نوید بہار ہو،نوجوانوں کو خوابوں کی منزل ملے، ٹوٹے دل جڑ جائیں، بیمار صحت پائیں، بدامنی ختم اور امن کا فروغ ہو۔ آمین

— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) December 31, 2022

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that in the outgoing year “people marched, parliament triumphed over the selected, we came together to save [Pakistan]”, adding: “2023 will be the year hope triumphs over hate, truth over lies & Unity triumphs over division,” he added.

2022 was the year;the people marched, parliament triumphed over the selected, we came together to save 🇵🇰. IA 2023 will be the year hope triumphs over hate, truth over lies & Unity triumphs over division. #HappyNewYear https://t.co/Qt4BZBagTz

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) December 31, 2022

Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman also remembered the flood victims and said that “we must not forget about all those in need of help and support to get back on their feet from the worst floods the world has seen”.

As we say goodbye to a tough 2022 for Pakistan, let us not lose sight of all those in need of help and support to get back on their feet from the worst floods the world has seen. For hundreds of thousands the peril has still not passed. Rehabilitation & recovery efforts continue pic.twitter.com/Ng6cWTl4Vj

— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) December 31, 2022

Meanwhile, in a video message, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf extended hearty New Year greetings to the entire Pakistani nation. He expressed the hope that this year would bring prosperity and peace to the country.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in his message said: “Year 2022: it was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. He added that a government “with the best economic performances was removed through a conspiracy,” and that the “country was handed over to a bunch of criminals”.

Year 2022: "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times". A govt with one of the best econ performances was removed through a conspiracy triggered by supreme self-interest; & Pak was handed over to a bunch of criminals. They ran economy to the ground, gave themselves NRO2

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 31, 2022

& through NAB law amends opened the doors for all white collar criminals to plunder. How was it the "best of times"? It was the first time I have seen Pakistanis become a nation. Despite all parties combining together against PTI, supported by ECP & Establishment, PTI through

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 31, 2022

The PTI chief lashed out at the incumbent government and said “they ran [the] economy to the ground and gave themselves NRO2”. He also said that he had “faith in Almighty Allah and confidence in our people that without [a] doubt in 2023 through elections PTI will form [a] strong government”.