Rallies won't redress people's problems: PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday that the public rejected the politics of chaos and instead prioritised the need for sound economic policies that directly addressed inflation and improved the living standard of the people.

In a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office, Shehbaz emphasised that instead of filling arenas for rallies, the focus should be on ameliorating the lot of the masses. He warned that abusive language and chaos would not lead to progress and urged every province and institution to resolve the public's problems.

"The people want reduction in inflation, solutions to their problems, and economic betterment," the prime minister said. "We will hold rallies in 2028 [for next general elections]; but right now, it is time to work hard to fulfil the pledges made to the people," he added.

Underscoring the urgency of addressing the public's economic concerns, the prime minister called for a shift in political priorities, arguing that instead of focusing on rallies and political gatherings, the immediate need was to improve the economic condition of the masses.

He linked the success of the country's economic recovery directly to political stability, warning that political chaos would disrupt efforts to provide relief to the public. "Economic recovery is tied to political stability; political chaos means affecting the process of providing relief to the people," he said.

He praised the people for supporting economic growth by promoting political stability and emphasised that national unity was crucial for sustaining this progress. "National unity for political stability will prove to be the guarantee of Pakistan's bright economic future and relief from inflation," he remarked.

To address the country's ongoing economic and security challenges, the prime minister called for collaboration between political parties, institutions, and provinces. "To tackle economic challenges and terrorism, the nation, political parties, institutions, and provinces must work together," he urged.

Recalling the past political instability, Shehbaz lamented that a lot of time had been wasted, therefore, wasting more time was not in the interest of the country and the nation. He was optimistic about the country's progress, noting that inflation had returned to single digits.

"Thank God, inflation has returned to single digits, and the economic situation is improving," he said, highlighting key indicators such as rising exports, the stability of the rupee, increasing remittances, and declining interest rates.

Looking forward, Prime Minister Shehbaz underscored that the current International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme should be the last one for Pakistan. "If it is so, it will be a true success," the prime minister said. He urged every province and institution to play its role in solving the public's problems.

The Prime Minister's statement came ahead of his address to the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 27. According to a Foreign Office statement, Shehbaz will reach New York for the General Assembly session on September 23 (today).

"In his address at the UN General Assembly on 27th September2024, the Prime Minister will reaffirm Pakistan's steadfast commitment to multilateralism and support for the role of the United Nations in fostering global peace, security, and prosperity," the Foreign Office said in a statement.

It added that he would emphasise the importance of addressing the long-standing issues on the agenda of the UN Security Council, including Palestine and Kashmir, and underline the importance of addressing the inequities in international economic relations and reforming the international financial architecture.

Besides, Prime Minister Shehbaz would also urge the international community to take decisive measures in addressing climate change and countering the rising tide of Islamophobia, the Foreign Office statement added.

During his five-day visit to the UN, the prime minister would attend several high-level meetings on the sidelines of the General Assembly session, including the 'High-Level Meeting on Existential Threat posed by Sea-level Rise' and the Security Council's open debate on 'Leadership for Peace'.

"He will also engage with a group of world leaders to discuss measures needed at the global level to advance the sustainable development agenda. His programme includes bilateral meetings with several world leaders, including the UN secretary-general and the president of the General Assembly," it added.

The UN General Assembly's high-level segment offers a crucial platform for Pakistan to highlight its perspectives on important issues of regional and international importance. The prime minister will highlight Pakistan's priority to placing people at the heart of domestic and global development agenda.

"He will also express Pakistan's commitment, as an incoming member of the UN Security Council for the year 2025-26, to work with all UN member states to uphold the UN Charter, preventing conflict, fostering peace, and promoting global prosperity," the Foreign Office statement concluded.