SIALKOT, Pakistan: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday said a Country can only progress if there was political stability and continuity of policies, and said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had the honour of accomplishing those tasks that were abandoned by the previous governments.
“We have put the Country on the path of progress and prosperity and InshaAllah it will continue,” he said while addressing a gathering at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on his day-long visit to the industrial City.
Abbasi said the PML-N had taken the Country forward on path of progress and prosperity owing to the dynamic vision and policies of Nawaz Sharif, and said the economic situation of the Country today was far better than what it was in 2013.
The prime minister reiterated that the Country’s gross domestic product (GDP) was destined to rise to six percent, and pointed out that had there been no sit-ins and politics of protests and allegations, the economic situation of Country would have been far better today.
The prime minister said the PML-N had put good governance in practice and accomplished tasks that were deemed impossible by previous governments.
In this regard, he mentioned the energy crisis that plagued the Country in the past and said today both electricity and gas were in abundance in the Country. He said if the government continued to pursue the policies of Nawaz Sharif, all ills of the Country would end.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said efforts were underway to lessen the cost of gas and electricity besides improving their availability and pointed out that the Council of Common Interest (CCI) would discuss the issue and take steps in this regard.
The premier said the previous PML-N government had completed over 500 km of motorway while work was underway on different sections of 1800 km long road sections, which, he said was unprecedented in the Country. He mentioned the Rs 150 billion projects by the National Highways Authority (NHA) in the area and said it would transform the entire communication infrastructure of the Country, lessen distances, speed up economic growth and boost trade and industry.
Khaqan Abbasi said the government had a long list of development projects that were underway and said since he assumed his office, he had been inaugurating a project every week.
In addition, he lauded the Sialkot businessmen for meeting international standards, improving quality and enhancing exports, besides improving their city. He said businessmen from other cities needed to emulate them and learn from their experiences.
The prime minister said the Country should have aimed for over $50 billion exports as $20-22 billion was not enough for a dynamic Country like Pakistan and asked the business community to make more efforts in boosting exports.
Abbasi recalled the serious threat of terrorism that had once bogged down Pakistan and said the situation on this front too was far better and the last remnants of terrorists were now on the run. He said Pakistan had been spending huge resources on fighting extremism and terrorism and the business environment today was very conducive for local and foreign investors in all spheres.
The prime minister said the people of Pakistan were on the right to ask the previous governments before 2013 that what has been their output. He mentioned the stalled projects of Neelum Jhelum, Kacchi Canal that irrigates Balochistan after traversing for 350 kilometers from Punjab, Lowari Tunnel, Gwadar Port etc and said though at all these projects were dotted with numerous inaugural plaques by previous heads of states and governments but regretted that no one was able to complete these on time, and said the PML-N had the honour of completing these.
Khaqan Abbasi regretted the dismal low number of income tax filers in the Country, and said there was an urgent need to boost it up on urgent basis. He said the government was working to make tax filing easier, widen its scope, besides simplifying the procedures.
