PM Nawaz for shunning politics of agitation

“Pakistan will Insha Allah be a centre of peace very soon,” says premier.

LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that some politicians are engaged in the outmoded politics of the 80s and the 90s, adding that the times have changed.

“Now only the politics of national development will work and people will accept only those who deliver,” he said while addressing a function arranged in connection with the 16th Yaum-e-Takbeer on Wednesday.

Pakistan had conducted five underground nuclear tests on May 28, 1998 and the day is celebrated as Yaum-e-Takbeer since.

The prime minister said the government could achieve the target of development, progress and prosperity within 10 years provided it was allowed to work uninterruptedly.

He said feeding the poor, eliminating terrorism, doing social welfare and resolving people’s problems was more important than politicking. “We need politics that makes Pakistan a strong nation,” he added.

He wondered why some politicians were pursuing the politics of train- and long-march, whose agenda they were following and for what purpose.

“Are these elements treading on the course of agitation due to our development projects, which they want to impede?”

The premier said no-one should do politics on the government endeavours for alleviating poverty, eliminating terrorism and revamping economy.

“The elements are, in fact, acting on an agenda to deny people the fruits of our policies and development projects and [want to] keep them in the darkness and beleaguered in problems,” he said.

The premier said his government wanted every province to enjoy the fruit of development and was trying to rise above politics to ensure that no part of the country remained backward.

“We have to work with honesty instead of doing politics. After four years, our performance will be before the people who will decide through the ballot as to who deserves to rule them.”

Against expectations, the premier only briefly touched upon the topic of his recent visit to India and meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said his visit was fairly good and things were going on in the right direction.  “Pakistan will Insha Allah be a centre of peace very soon,” he said, adding that for securing peace and development in the region, Pakistan aspired good relations with its neighbouring countries.

Talking about various development projects, he said his government has barely completed a year and a number of power plants have already been set up in the country.

He added that his government with the cooperation of China was initiating several large power projects, including a 6,600MW Gaddani Power Park, four power projects in Punjab, Thar Coal power project, Pak-China economic corridor and many more.

He said Pakistan had become self-sufficient in defence and now the focus of the government was on economic autarky for which they were making untiring efforts. He claimed that the economy was rapidly improving.

“We expect 16% growth in revenues, foreign exchange reserves are growing, investor confidence has been restored and most of all the value of rupee has stabilised,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2014.