Dar rules out dialogue with state attackers

Stresses govt committed to putting Pakistan back on the road to economic growth

LONDON:

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the government will not allow any internal or external elements to derail Pakistan's journey to development and prosperity.

He made these remarks during his interaction with British Parliamentarians of Pakistani origin at a dinner hosted by High Commissioner Dr. Mohammad Faisal at the Pakistan House in London.

The previous government's policy of appeasing and rehabilitating extremist groups, like the Tehreek-e-Taliban and the release of over 100 hardened terrorist criminals, has led to a resurgence of terrorism, said Dar.

He underscored that there could be no question of engaging with those who had attacked state institutions and used international forums to undermine the national interest. The foreign minister insisted that the government would not be deterred by any pressure or challenge in this regard.

The deputy prime minister stressed that the government was committed to putting Pakistan back on the road to economic growth and development that the country had been charting in 2017. The difficult and politically unpopular measures taken by the recent government are now beginning to bear fruit. Inflation has been curtailed to a single digit while the current account deficit has been brought under control with stable currency.

There is across-the-board institutional support for economic reform and the Special Investment Facilitation Council, set up by the government last year, is drawing foreign investors' interest in Pakistan's energy, mining, IT and agriculture sectors, Dar remarked.