Foreign debts to be paid through Reko Diq gold: PM Imran

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan called upon the youth to pursue independent ideas fearlessly and emphasised that success and failure are bestowed by God and not from human beings.

The prime minister expressed these views while addressing as the chief guest at an event organised by the National Incubation Startups on Wednesday, where he highlighted the importance of startups for the Pakistani economy. The prime minister said, “Only God can give you respect or humiliation. Do whatever you want to; you can bring about neither. All day long, I hear people talking against me on TV. They can do nothing without the will of God.” He said that whatever media says about him Allah will give respect. He said that fearful people never contribute big for the country. He pointed out that hesitation and fear impeded human beings from making progress and only those people succeed in making progress, who were blessed with courage and passion. He remarked, “A startup is when people embark fearlessly on their ideas. Success becomes a possibility when people pursue their dreams fearlessly”.

The prime minister talked about the rich resources Pakistan was blessed with, saying it has minerals, coal reserves, fertile land, plenty of water and has “12 seasons". He said that foreign debts would be paid through the resources of Reko Diq gold. He said the government was trying to harness these resources and the youth were being given job opportunities. “We have to free the youth potential and I never had a doubt that Pakistan would lead the entire region, the way it was progressing in 1960s,” he noted. The prime minister contended that the real-life was the name of ups and downs. However, one should reform himself during bad times and accelerate efforts. He said that the encouragement of startup culture in youth was the vision of Naya Pakistan.

In a reminiscent mood, he recalled an incident when he was a young cricketer playing his first cricket series against the English cricket team. He said that senior cricketers in the Pakistan team were of the view that the series could not be won and he remarked, “This is known as mental slavery. Often, we wouldn't win several matches only because we didn't have the confidence to do so”. He also recalled that when he joined politics 23 years ago, he knew that Pakistan's young population had immense potential. He urged youngsters to pursue their ideas and utilise their potentials by thinking independently. On this occasion, he also spoke about 'The American Dream' by saying that societies where business, entrepreneurship and startups were not encouraged ultimately did not progress. “We have talented youth and society moves forward, which values its youth. The youth is our biggest asset and we are showing them the way and encouraging them. The government is supporting the youth working in IT sector and other departments,” he said.

The prime minister contended that when a government was going down, the bureaucracy would say, it could not be done and when it was doing well, the bureaucracy would understand good ideas and support them and don’t fear from experiments. The prime minister visited Startups stalls at the ceremony of a demonstration by National Incubation Centre Startups here.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran said that the investment-friendly policies of the present government offer immense opportunities for foreign investors to expand their business in diverse fields. Prime Minister said this, as CEO Pepsi Africa, Middle East & South Asia Eugene Willemsen called on him here. He welcomed the commitment of Pepsico towards social development of Pakistan and said that the government would extend all possible facilitation to the company for expansion of its business, including in the agriculture sector.

Prime Minister Imran Khan also discussed with the Eugene Willemsen the possibility of development of the dairy sector of Pakistan owing to the huge potential of the country in the dairy sector. Willemsen apprised the Prime Minister of Pepsico's existing investment portfolio in Pakistan employing around 60,000 individuals directly as well as indirectly, and a network of approximately 700,000 retailers across the country who rely on Pepsico products to make a living. Prime Minister Imran Khan appreciated the existing business venture of Pepsico as well as its proposed future investment plans in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said Wednesday Pakistan stands with the people and government of China in their difficult and trying time and it will always stand by them. In tweets, the prime minister said that Pakistan would be extending every material and moral support to China just China had always stood by us during all our times of trial and tribulation.

The prime minister tweeted, “Pakistan stands with the people & govt of China in their difficult & trying time and it will always stand by them. We will be extending every material & moral support to China just as China has always stood by us during all our times of trial and tribulation”. He also wrote to having issued instructions to the Foreign Office and Overseas Ministry to do everything possible for our students who are stuck in Wuhan city.

Meanwhile, General Manager Coca-Cola Içecek Pakistan (CCI) Ahmet Kursad Ertin, along with Ambassador of Turkey to Pakistan Mustafa Yurdakul called on Prime Minister Imran Khan. Adviser to PM Abdul Razak Dawood and Chairman BOI Syed Zubair Haider Gilani were also present during the meeting.

Ahmet Kursad Ertin informed the Prime Minister that CCI Pakistan serves a consumer base of 208 million with 6 plants and more than 3000 employees across Pakistan. Referring to historical brotherly relations between Pakistan and Turkey, the prime minister said that the upcoming visit of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Pakistan would further take the existing bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries to new heights.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed the government's firm resolve to provide maximum relief to the people despite the difficult situation. He was talking to a delegation of ticket holders of PTI from Gujranwala that called on him here. The delegation expressed complete confidence on the government's efforts against inflation.