Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has said collective efforts by the entire nation, especially the youth, are vital to make Pakistan self-reliant and debt-free.

He was talking to the young parliamentarians belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) here in Islamabad on Friday.

The Prime Minister said the policy rate and inflation have decreased, while remittances from Pakistani expatriates and exports of agricultural goods are on the rise. He said all these positive indicators show that the economy is heading in the right direction.

Shehbaz Sharif mentioned that the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) board meeting is scheduled to be held on the 25th of this month to approve a loan programme for Pakistan.

He acknowledged the efforts of friendly countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and China for their role in the IMF programme for Pakistan.

The Prime Minister wished that the upcoming programme would be the last IMF programme for Pakistan, but the nation, especially the youth, will have to work hard to achieve this goal.

He said the tax net will have to be expanded and there should be a full stop to tax evasion. He emphasized that self-reliance is essential to have an honorable and dignified life.

The Prime Minister noted that seeking loans and rolling over old debt cannot guarantee a respectable life. Hence, he said, collective efforts and hard work are the only way forward to attain a prestigious position among the comity of nations.