Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said Pakistan will focus on long-delayed reforms, structural changes, and merit-based governance to achieve economic goals.
Speaking to Pakistani students selected for the government’s Uraan Pakistan internship programme, he said, “The road is very challenging as there were long overdue reforms, and the structural changes had not taken place in the last many decades.”
The prime minister said Pakistan was close to default in 2023 when his government took charge. He said most people believed Pakistan would default, but the government avoided this by holding talks with the IMF.
“The majority viewed that Pakistan would go into default while the minority thought that we will escape this disaster,” he said, adding that he assured the IMF that Pakistan would meet the programme requirements.
He said inflation was high, the policy rate was at 22.5%, and businesses were not confident. He stressed that teamwork and honest efforts were needed to improve the situation.
He mentioned reforms in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), saying corrupt officials were removed. He added that digitisation had now become the focus, with modern tools like AI being used.
“We have shown doors to the corrupt people without being influenced.”
He said tax collection in one sector alone had gone from Rs12 billion to over Rs50 billion after digitisation, showing how much revenue was being lost earlier.
“We have a long and thorny journey and facing mountain like impediments, but I assure that we will not shy away from discharging our duties in the service of the nation.”
When asked about recent tensions with India where both countries came periolously close to a nuclear war, the PM said:
“During the month of May, Pakistan faced India’s uncalled aggression in the backdrop of Pahalgam incident.”
He said he offered India an international investigation, but India did not respond.
“As result of Indian aggression, 55 Pakistanis were martyred and they responded in self defence by downing six Indian planes.”
He added, “While on May 9 and 10, after India’s attack, Pakistan responded with full might and taught the enemy a lesson.”
The PM praised the armed forces for their actions and said Pakistan had won the conventional war. He also said:
“Pakistan’s nuclear programme was only meant for the peaceful purposes and for the self-defense.”
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