PM urges influential classes to play role to change nation’s fate

CITY REPORTER
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Wednesday urged the influential classes to play their role to change the fate of the nation as Pakistan is facing climate-induced destruction.
PM Shehbaz addressed the lawyers’ convention in Islamabad on Wednesday and said the affluent classes of Pakistani society can change the nation’s fate through firm resolve and solid actions.
He said, “Where does Pakistan stand today despite the passage of 75 years? This is a pinching question… We are moving in a circle all the time… This is now or never.”
The PM said the nation wanted to know why the Quaid’s dreams remained fulfilled as millions of the people were faced with poverty.
Shehbaz Sharif said, unfortunately, even the smaller nations, as well as the neighbouring countries, had achieved immense progress leaving Pakistan behind.
Referring to the massive destruction caused by the floods, the prime minister said hundreds of thousands of the flood-stricken people were about to brave the upcoming harsh cold winters and 0.6 million pregnant women were also compelled to stay in tents.
Shehbaz Sharif told the lawyers community that as the coalition government was formed, the country was on the verge of economic default. However, owing to its untiring efforts, the government had averted the economic default and controlled the economic instability, though inflation was “at its peak.”
The PM told the gathering that an agreement with the IMF was signed but violated in the past risking the whole Program.
He said the government was strategizing to cope with the swelling needs of the gas, considering the upcoming winter season. He said the previous government failed to sign a gas purchase agreement when it was available at 3 cents per MMBTU comparing the current 40 cents per MMBTU. He said the flood water was still causing destruction in Balochistan, leading to the collapse of houses and washing away of crops. He said even the availability of clean drinking water was a challenge for the flood-affected people.
He said the country was rich with immense resources like Sendak and Reko Diq with a capable human resources like farmers, engineers and doctors.
“If we make a resolve, Pakistan will emerge a great country. It will not come through speeches, rather through will and action,” the prime minister remarked.