Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday appreciated the role of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir for his efforts to bring in the support of a total $3 billion from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet in Islamabad, the premier termed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement a “breather” and a “moment of concern” urging all the national institutions to make concerted efforts to rid the country of loans and put it on the course to progress.
PM Shehbaz said that keeping in their respective jurisdictions, the institutions should make a united efforts for at least next 15 years to address the country’s economic woes.
He said the country’s deliverance from loans required a vision, unity, hard work and sacrifice by the affluent people.
“If we opt this course, no one can stop Pakistan from achieving progress,” he remarked.
The prime minister thanked all of his cabinet members, particularly Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and his team, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Managing Director of IMF for their respective roles to make Pakistan achieve the nine-month stand-by agreement of $3 billion.
“I pray that this is the last IMF deal. But this is easier said than done,” he commented and mentioned that the state-owned enterprises like Steel Mills, PIA and others were eating up around Rs600 billion annually.
He said under the IMF deal, Pakistan would receive first installment of $1.1 billion in July.
He also thanked the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his role in the IMF agreement and offering his further role in the process, if needed.
The prime minister spoke high of Chinese support during last three months by rolling over $5 billion of sovereign and commercial banks loans which was unprecedented.
He said the situation would have been different, if China had not made this rollover. The people of Pakistan should never forget this,” he remarked.
Similarly, the prime minister also thanked Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirate (UAE) and Islamic Development Bank for committing $2 billion, and $1 billion each respectively for Pakistan.
Calling it a teamwork, he particularly appreciated the role of Chief of the Army Staff General Asim Munir for his efforts to bring in the support of a total $3 billion from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said that during the remaining 40-42 days of the government’s term, the cabinet members should make efforts to leave behind a policy framework providing a roadmap and a vision for future development.
The prime minister said the whole Muslim Ummah including the government and people of Pakistan strongly condemned another incident of burning a copy of Holy Quran in Sweden.
“We demand immediate action against the perpetrator. Unfortunately, this is not the first time as a similar incident had also taken place in the past,” he remarked.
He also demanded of the Swedish government to take notice of Islamophobic and hateful narrative against the Muslim population in their country.
Prime Minister Shehbaz appreciated the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for convening an urgent meeting on the issue and said that Pakistan endorsed their meeting and decision, with a hope that such Islamophobic incidents did not recur in the future.
