Politicians urge reset of priorities in 2023

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.

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.

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”.

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.

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”.

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”.

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”.