ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday chaired a session of the Central Majlis-e-Ama of PML-N where matters pertaining to national and regional security, party affairs and government’s performance were discussed.
The prime minister, addressing the session, said that Pakistan was faced with a multitude of problems when he assumed charge in 2013 and the government is resolving the issues in a satisfactory manner.
He said that terrorist attacks have dwindled across the country since then and Pakistan’s economy has strengthened. The prime minister also said that the Karachi operation was started after discussions with all the stakeholders and the operation has yielded positive results.
Kashmir issue
The prime minister reasserted his commitment to resolving the Kashmir issue, saying that nothing can stop Pakistan from supporting the Kashmiris’ struggle for freedom.
He said that no one can take away the title of freedom fighter from Burhan Wani, whose martyrdom triggered a fresh wave of protests in occupied Kashmir and intensified Indian atrocities in the region.
The prime minister said his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi was wrong in thinking that the struggle for freedom could be equated to terrorism.
Energy crisis
Discussing the energy situation, the prime minister said that the government is working day and night to resolve the energy crisis and loadshedding would be eliminated by 2018. He said that the government has purchased the Bhasha dam land for 100 billion rupees.
The prime minister said that mining projects have been started in Thar. The government is installing infrastructure to produce electricity from coal – something which has not been done in Thar in the past 70 years. More than 10,000 megawatts of electricity will be added to the national grid by 2018, he added.
CPEC and economy
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that work is underway on 46 billion dollars’ worth of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. He added that Balochistan would be the biggest beneficiary of CPEC.
The premier said 1,000 billion rupees worth of roads are being constructed in the country. The government is working on development of the social sector and will construct hospitals in the next 18 months, he said.
The prime minister also said that farmers would be compensated for the low prices of agricultural products in the international market.
Opposition
Alluding to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) plans to shut down Islamabad after Muharram, the prime minister said the government’s agenda is to focus on Pakistan’s development, whereas the other party believes only in protest.
“They want to shut down Pakistan with their negative politics,” the PM said, adding that the party failed in 2014 and would fail again this time as well.
The prime minister said that democracy allows people the right to protest but there should be a limit to that.