Embarrassing for me to ask for more loans: PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that it really embarrassed him to ask for further loans and also lauded the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the financial support

Addressing the passing out ceremony of probationary officers of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), he opined that it was a not a right solution to their economic challenges as the loans would be returned back.

H urged the civil servants to serve the country and nation with their utmost capacities and expressed the hope that they were capable of steering the country out of the current challenges.

The prime minister reminded them that they would be confronted with issues like unemployment, poverty, disease, lack of education and delayed response to public problems.

The ceremony was attended by Governor Punjab Balighur Rehman, retired judge, officers and a number of families.

In a veiled reference to the previous government, the prime minister said baseless allegations were leveled against certain officers which caused embarrassment for their families.

He said due to such a situation, the civil bureaucrats thought twice before taking any step, which was a real stumbling block.

The prime minister stressed that it should be a collective agenda of them all and the political hierarchy should provide an enabling environment to the civil bureaucracy to serve the masses with dedication. If an amicable environment was provided to the civil servants, they could excel with their full potential, he added.

“Let’s move to transform Pakistan into Quaid’s and strive to turn it stronger. The people will remember you for your yeoman’s service,” he said.

The prime minister regretted that during the past 75 years, different governments -- whether headed by the political leadership or military dictators -- could not address the economic issues.

In the past, time was wasted with the creation of chaos and protests, he added. The prime minister said the United Arab Emirates (UAE) president

The prime minister also congratulated the officers of PAS on the completion of their courses and said that they were the brightening stars of the nation, holding keys of country’s future in their hands.

He also commended them for serving the flood-affected people and visiting different areas of the country.

The prime minister also gave away certificates to the outstanding officers.