Minister stresses economic reforms for Pakistan’s revival

December 02, 2024 (MLN): Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, on Sunday stressed that Pakistan must strengthen its economy, noting that countries such as China, South Korea, and India have achieved significant progress by drawing inspiration from Pakistan's economic model.

He made these remarks during a media interaction after attending the 8th Convocation of FAST National University Chiniot.

He stated that Pakistan has become an important economic and geographical center in the region, but India’s defense budget is 15 times larger than Pakistan’s, which poses a serious challenge.

The Federal Minister pointed out that Pakistan's economy was ahead of India for the past forty years, but today it is lagging behind.

The reason for this, he stated, is political fragmentation and internal divisions, which are obstacles to stabilizing the economy.

Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh stressed that politicians, the judiciary, and all institutions must adopt a path of understanding and cooperate on to improve the country’s economy and implement measures for the welfare of the nation.

He further added that all political forces should take a step back to improve the political environment.

He reminded that whenever the country makes progress, political turmoil is often created, with the most significant example being the elections after 1970.

The Prime Minister has stated that both the 2018 and 2024 elections should be accounted for in order to restore public trust and bring transparency to the political system.

He stated that no decision has been made within the cabinet regarding the imposition of a ban on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) or the enforcement of Governor's Rule.

He emphasized that imposing bans on political parties and implementing Governor's Rule are not the solutions to political stability and that such actions have yielded no positive results in the past.

He further emphasized that dialogue is crucial for achieving political stability. There is no room for violent politics in a democracy, and violent protests should not be the path for political parties.

Protesting is the right of the people, but it should not disrupt the normal course of life. Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh stated that without political stability, Pakistan cannot progress like its neighboring countries.

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