Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, addressed a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday. During the meeting, the focus was on the expected austerity measures underway to stave off default as Pakistan prepares to sign an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the staff level.
The Prime Minister stressed during his speech that although “one or two items” needed to be resolved in order to finish the IMF agreement, they would be done quickly. In these trying times, he pleaded with the government, including political and administrative bodies, as well as members of provincial governments, to perform as needed.
Shehbaz Sharif attributed Pakistan’s current economic difficulties to a number of factors, including imported inflation, IMF requirements, and the previous administration’s policies. He emphasized that in order to address these issues, the country must make sizable sacrifices and adopt measures of restraint and simplification.
The prime minister urged the wealthy class to contribute, saying that it is important for leaders to lead by example. He claimed that while the government is making an effort, real action is needed to change things. The Premier acknowledged that while the measures of entrenchment and simplification might not lessen the burden of inflation, they would lessen public resentment.
The opposition PTI party’s coordinated campaign to encourage arrests, “Jail Bharo Tehreek,” and the prime minister’s media appearance happened at the same time. The current administration, according to Shehbaz Sharif, is making every effort, but making difficult choices is neither simple nor amusing.
The nation, according to the Premier, is watching the government with “critical and questioning views,” and he emphasized the importance of looking forward and learning from the past. He argued that Pakistan’s government is prepared to meet these challenges head-on and that the country as a whole is strong.
The Prime Minister concluded by urging the people of Pakistan to rise to the occasion and make the necessary sacrifices in order to safeguard the nation’s economic future. In the name of God and Pakistan, and for the benefit of their future generations, he emphasized that the government, politicians, and bureaucracy have made the conscious decision to demonstrate the spirit of sacrifice.
