Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while chairing a federal cabinet meeting on Tuesday in Islamabad, expressed satisfaction on economic indicators while maintaining that the country has now reached a take-off position.
"After defeating India in a conventional war, we now need to surpass it in the economic field as well. The entire nation is united, and such opportunities arise only once in a century." he said.
While discussing the budget for the next fiscal year, PM Shehbaz said that the government and the people have faced severe challenges over the past year and a half. He lauded the salaried class for playing a vital role in economic stability, urging the wealthy and influential classes to also play their part.
He said the common man and the salaried class have played a vital role in economic stability, and the salaried class has borne a significant burden in the previous budget, contributing Rs400 billion to the national treasury.
Due to the sacrifices, hard work, and efforts of the salaried class, Pakistan has reached a position where it is ready for take-off, he added, questioning the wealthy and influential sections of society about their contribution to the country.
He further said that positive indicators of economic stability have emerged, with a decrease in inflation rate and policy rate, an increase in exports, and a significant increase in foreign exchange reserves and IT exports. It is time to focus on economic growth in the current budget, he added.
The PM said that Pakistan defeated an enemy that claimed it was incomparable to Pakistan in a conventional war, and now we will also defeat India in the economic field. With determination and hard work, nothing is impossible, and everyone needs to work together day and night to move forward.
"All institutions have played a role in economic successes, and now is the time for us to move forward together. The entire nation is united, and such opportunities arise only once in a century. We should not waste this moment but utilise it. India is talking about using water as a weapon after its defeat in war, but we will take every single drop of water that belongs to Pakistan, and we will not tolerate any disruption. India has no right to stop our share of water, and it cannot do so," he added.
"We have discussed the situation with all four provinces, and we will be successful on this front as well," he said, while appreciating the hard work of all ministries, especially finance, regarding the budget.
PM Shehbaz also condemned the ongoing atrocities in Palestine and Kashmir, saying that the brutality in Palestine is the worst form of oppression in the present era, and the international community should play a role in achieving an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
He lamented that innocent children, girls, and Muslims are being killed, and such atrocities have not been witnessed ever before. He added that the people of Kashmir and Palestine will definitely achieve freedom.
The PM reiterated Pakistan's full support for the Palestinian and Kashmiri brothers and sisters, saying that the people of Pakistan stand and will continue to stand with them.
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