ISLAMABAD:Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has expressed the firm commitment to make Pakistan an economically self-reliant and a debt free country through collective efforts. In his farewell speech in the National Assembly on Wednesday, he said the coalition government successfully tackled the challenges on the economic front during the last sixteen months.
The Prime Minister said the government tactfully averted default, revived the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Programme and extended all possible support to the flood affected people. He said the government has given an economic revival vision. He said under the Special Investment Facilitation Council, areas such as agriculture, information technology, mineral and exports have been targeted.
The Prime Minister said whosoever forms the next government after the general election will take forward this vision of economic revival. He recalled that it was the first time in ten years that the country witnessed a bumper wheat crop this year and it is expected that cotton will also see a good production.
Shehbaz Sharif strongly criticized the performance of the previous government, saying their conduct damaged our relations with the United States, China and some other brotherly countries. Referring to the conviction of the PTI Chairman in Toshakhana case, the Prime Minister said the present government during the last sixteen months has not targeted any of its political opponents. He said it is not a matter of celebration that a leader of a political party has been sentenced.
Shehbaz Sharif said the previous government pushed the opposition to the wall during its four year stint. Strongly condemning the 9th May violent incidents, the Prime Minister said these were a rebellion against the State of Pakistan, the Armed Forces and the Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir.
He acknowledged the sacrifices rendered by the Armed Forces and Security Agencies of the country to defeat terrorism. He said this House should again take notice of the May 9 conspiracy and pass a condemnation resolution so that nobody could dare repeat such acts in future. Regarding some points raised by BNP Chief Sardar Jan Akhter Mengal, Shehbaz Sharif said he tried his best to fulfill all the legitimate demands of the people of Balochistan.
He said water and electricity projects in Gwadar have been completed in a short span of sixteen months. He, however, assured the House that all the unresolved issues of the province would be addressed with the collective approach as Pakistan cannot move forward without the development of Balochistan. Talking about future course of action, the Prime Minister said he would send the advice to the President of Pakistan for the dissolution of the National Assembly tonight.
He added that tomorrow he would hold consultations with the Opposition Leader for the nomination of a caretaker Prime Minister in accordance with the Constitution.
Paying tributes to former Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, Shehbaz Sharif expressed his deep gratitude to all the coalition partners, Opposition Members and his Cabinet Members for their support and guidance in running affairs of the government. He also thanked the Speaker National Assembly, the Chairman Senate and the staff of the Parliament for their consistent cooperation.
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