Nawaz for better relations with US, India

LONDON: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) President Nawaz Sharif has hoped that relations between the United States and Pakistan after Donald Trump’s emphatic victory in the US elections would remain stable and improve further.

Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz had reached London from Geneva and were speaking to the media. Answering a question by this reporter on the victory of Donald Trump, Nawaz Sharif said: “Relations between the US and Pakistan have been good, should remain good and could improve further. We should have good relations with our neighbours too.”

Asked about India relations, he said that Indian cricket should have visited Pakistan and that could have improved relations. He said relations with India can be improved and there seems to be no hindrance in it. “That time will come when the cricket team will visit too.”

About the smog pollution in Punjab, Nawaz asked what had happened to the billion-tree tsunami of the PTI government. Nawaz said: “Where are the billion trees, where are the 50 lakh jobs and where are the dams. I cannot see anything. The PTI should point out the project that it started when it ruled in the federal. Is there any other project the PTI can name that it started?”

The PMLN president said that the PTI was the founder of the culture of misbehaviour and hooliganism. “This is extremely unfortunate. They promoted the culture of hooliganism in their government and did the same while in the opposition. To establish such a culture is unfortunate. They run after cars like zombies with eggs and tomatoes. So, if agitation is written in your fate then do it appropriately. Youth have been taught to chase cars and raise dirty slogans. Our religion and culture don’t teach this.”

A journalist asked him that it’s believed that Imran Khan will stay inside the jail for as long as he wants, Nawaz replied: “Ask those who believe so.” Nawaz praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for going out of his way to help Pakistan’s economy. He said that the economic indicators are getting better and Shehbaz has stabilised a falling economy. He deserves appreciation. Reserves are going up. Stock exchange is rising every day. Interest rates are coming down, so is inflation. Maryam brought down the flour prices soon after coming to power. It’s decreasing continuously. Maryam’s government gave Rs55 billion for the electricity relief.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that Pakistan is getting good news. “It’s after the previous government of Nawaz Sharif, that now we are getting good news. Pakistan will soon overcome these difficulties. The issue of smog has been there for several years and we cannot fix it overnight but we are doing our utmost to resolve it. We are taking every step to resolve this. No steps were taken previously to deal with this issue.”

She said that plans are under consideration for Punjab Airline. She said she was in good health, when asked about her trip to Geneva for a check-up. The former three-time prime minister took flight from London last week to Geneva while the Punjab chief minister left for Switzerland city on a special Pakistan Air Force plane from Lahore. CM Maryam was accompanied by Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and personal staff. They stayed there for four days in Geneva. Marriyum Aurangzeb had left for Pakistan. The Sharifs will return to Pakistan on the weekend.