Will leave India behind with hard work: PM

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday expressed his determination to propel Pakistan forward, emphasizing that progress is now the nation’s destiny. He stated that if Pakistan does not work hard and surpass India, he would no longer consider himself worthy of his name.

Addressing a public gathering here, Shehbaz said, “Progress has become Pakistan’s destiny; if we don’t work hard and leave India behind, then my name would not be Shehbaz Sharif.”

He said that the federal government was committed to uniform progress and prosperity of all areas with uplift of backward areas like south Punjab by spreading a vast network of development projects. He said when they came to power, inflation had reached over 40 percent, but his leader Nawaz Sharif decided to sacrifice politics for the sake of the country.

With hard work and pro-development policies of the incumbent government, inflation was capped below 2.4 percent while the interest rate had been reduced to 12 percent benefiting investors, business people and farmers, he added.

The prime minister, expressing his views in local Seraiki dialect, said that Nawaz Sharif and he had a strong relation with this region. During the year 2010, when the flood water and destruction was witnessed everywhere in these areas, he as a servant of the area, worked day and night to alleviate sufferings of the masses.

“I have come to convey that Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif are working day and night for the uplift of entire province, particularly for the south Punjab,” he added.

Shehbaz said during his previous tenures, he had worked for the establishment of Daanish schools, hospitals, provision of free medicines and livestock, award of scholarships, besides allocating extra quota for the youth of the area in different sectors.

He said the Punjab chief minister was spreading a network of hospitals and roads in the province, inaugurated the facility of Kissan cards, different health and education centres, besides working for the establishment of Nawaz Sharif cancer hospital in Lahore.

Earlier, the prime minister unveiled plaque for upgradation project of Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari International Airport and performed ground-breaking of dualisation of 331-km Indus Highway (N-55), Tranche-III of Rajanpur-DG Khan-DI Khan.

He was briefed by the relevant authorities about the salient features of the projects.

The completion of the project would enhance connectivity between the southern parts of Punjab with southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa via D I Khan and help in boosting economic, trade and business activities.

The prime minister, in his speech, also announced construction of a cancer hospital in DG Khan and establishment of a university in Rajanpur. He said that an era of progress and prosperity had dawned upon the area in which the youth would get job opportunities.

Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanvir Hussain, Attaullah Tarar and PM’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah also accompanied the prime minister.

The prime minister also reiterated that seeking foreign loans was no solution to economic issues and the country’s future. Without loans, they would change the fate of the country by striving day and night and shedding sweat and blood, he said, adding that he did not believe in hollow slogans, and promised to ensure progress and prosperity of the backward areas.

He maintained that the country’s economy had stabilised. He also praised all the leaders of the region for working hard for the uplift of their respective areas and mentioned the minister for power who was working hard to provide relief on power tariff by bringing reforms.

The prime minister further said for progress and development, peace was required.

The enemies of Pakistan including Khwarij were carrying out terrorist activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces and the security forces were giving sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, he said and urged the people to remember these sacrifices.

“Without elimination of terrorism, the country cannot move on the path of progress,” he opined and without naming the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said mounting attacks on Islamabad in the past had caused immense losses as one-day strike caused billions in losses to the national kitty. Without naming PTI founder Imran Khan, the prime minister said, “A politician used to say that Shehbaz Sharif would go [abroad] to ask for money. Did you go to distribute it? The country’s economy has stabilised, but we need to bring prosperity, provide employment to the youth and further reduce electricity bills.”

The prime minister also expressed the resolve that together, they would defeat enemies of Pakistan.

Earlier, Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, in his welcome address, said that the people had converged in huge numbers to acknowledge the prime minister’s development agenda, adding Shehbaz had given Rs131 billion development package to the area.

The government under his leadership had controlled inflation, secured national interests and resolved issues like IPPs by providing relief to the poor masses, he added.

“PMLN is a party for the bright future of country,” he said, adding construction of roads in the area would usher in an era of prosperity.

Sardar Jamal Khan also spoke on the occasion and thanked the prime minister for his affection for the people of area and his development initiatives.

Meanwhile, the prime minister met local and parliamentary leaders in DG Khan and talked about the development issues of their constituencies and areas. The leaders paid tribute to the prime minister for the recent financial stability in the country.

They thanked the government for undertaking development work for the welfare and well-being of people in their area. The prime minister advised the participants of the meeting to play an active role for the welfare of the people.

He appreciated the people of Dera Ghazi Khan for holding a successful public meeting.

Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanvir Hussain, Attaullah Tarar and Rana Sanaullah also attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake a two-day official visit to Azerbaijan from February 24-25 at the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev, the Foreign Office said. According to the statement issued on Saturday, this will be PM Shehbaz’s second visit to Azerbaijan since assuming office in March 2024.

He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and other key members of the cabinet, reflecting Pakistan’s strong commitment to deepening its engagement with Azerbaijan.

During the visit, the two sides will engage in wide-ranging discussions on areas of mutual interest in order to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in energy, trade, defence, education and climate sectors. During the visit, the two sides are expected to sign several MoUs and agreements in multiple areas of cooperation.

The prime minister is also expected to deliver a keynote speech during a Business Forum organised in collaboration with the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AZPROMO).

During the visit, the premier, along with the president of Azerbaijan, will also visit Fuzuli (Karabakh) as part of a special visit to the liberated territories of Karabakh. Earlier, The News quoting top officials reported that both countries are likely to sign the agreement on establishing an international trading company in Singapore as a Joint Venture between Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR).

The federal cabinet has already ratified the decision of ECC approving the establishment of this company. This will be the first ever company to be set up by PSO in Singapore for trading LNG and other energy products. PSO will soon deposit $0.5 million in any bank in Singapore for the registration of its company. “Notably, in February 2024, Pakistan signed an agreement with Azerbaijan for the sale of JF-17C Block-III fighter jets, valued at $1.6 billion. In July 2024, during the visit of the Azerbaijan President to Pakistan, both countries agreed to enhance the bilateral investment level of up to $2 billion in areas of mutually beneficial projects,” the report stated.