Readiness required on multiple fronts to meet challenges: PM
Points regarding Balochistan to be resolved in a friendly manner: PM
Quetta:Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Saturday emphasized that the challenge posed by threats to Pakistan was no longer limited to traditional warfare and emphasized the requirement of readiness on multiple fronts.
He was speaking to officers at the Command and Staff College here.
Accompanied by Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Attaullah Tarar, Balochistan Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Rahat Naseem Ahmed Khan, and DG ISPR Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the Prime Minister presented a holistic vision of national resilience.
Pakistan threats are no longer in the mold of classical warfare," PM Sharif maintained. "Our military, political, and economic establishments need to be equally ready for hybrid challenges, ranging from border security to sabotage of the economy.
He gave credit to the Pakistan Armed Forces for their professionalism and bravery, using the Pulwama incident as a case in point for national prowess. "While India was attacking innocent people, our Air Force retaliated with precision, targeting seven high-value targets," he maintained, pointing out that the incident demonstrated the operational preparedness of Pakistan on the ground and in the sky.
The Prime Minister had also severely condemned India's propaganda and trying to turn incidents like the Pulwama attack into weapons. He clarified that Pakistan had reacted firmly, diplomatically and militarily. "India attempted to make water a weapon, but we have drawn a red line. Pakistan will never let its water rights be usurped," he went on.
He appreciated the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar on their strategic vision, ensuring that Pakistan's military and people are united against any hostility. "The recent tensions have only improved the morale of our nation and forces," he said.
He added that at the time he took office for a 16-month term, the nation was confronted with harsh challenges, but they were all overcomeable. "Our emphasis continues to be on the economy, reforms, and counterterrorism," he stated.
He referred to major successes from the start of economic reforms in March 2024. "Tax collections have risen by 28% year-on-year. There has been a move to a faceless assessment system at Karachi Port that has brought more transparency. Inflation has fallen from 38% to single digits. The rupee is stable now," he added.
Shehbaz Sharif also highlighted the zero-tolerance approach of the government to corruption, attributing economic stabilization to tough choices and anti-smuggling efforts. "We are bringing modern technology, including crypto regulation and blockchain, to bring Pakistan in line with the international financial world," he declared.
He reiterated Pakistan's close relations with nations such as China, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Qatar, and the Gulf states. "Our strategic friendships have withstood every test. These countries supported us during our worst moments," he remarked.
The Prime Minister summoned national unity and hard work to become a member of great nations. "Perseverance brings success. We will make Pakistan a model for the world, and together we will do this," he vowed.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also stated the problems of the people of Balochistan would be resolved peacefully and money would be allocated for the development and progress of the biggest province.
Speaking in a grand jirga of Balochistan here, he affirmed that all the provinces were brothers and would have an equal share of resources of the country.
The federal government was giving Rs 70 billion on the solarization project in Balochistan, he added Rs 150 billion will be diverted for the construction of highway N25 in Balochistan.
These amounts would be obtained from the amount which was being collected by the government after the reduction in prices of petroleum products in the international market.
The prime minister added that the government would spend Rs 1000 billion on the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) during the current year and 25 percent or Rs 250 billion out of the fund would be for projects in Balochistan.
He maintained that people of Balochistan deserve federal money and every single penny will be used openly for the development and prosperity of the province.
He was chief minister of Punjab, he declared ten percent quota for students of Balochistan in various schemes of Punjab like laptop schemes and scholarships at foreign and provincial educational institutions.
Previously, Rs two billion were spent on a heart hospital in Balochistan, he went on.
He remembered Punjab had consented to providing some of its share from the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award to Balochistan due to its development requirements since the province occupied more land. In terms of today's value, the amount diverted to Balochistan was Rs 160 billion, he said.
The NFC award was signed in Lahore in 2010 after a three-day deliberation between the national leadership comprising President Asif Ali Zardari, then prime minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and Nawaz Sharif, he added.
He said during the time of Nawaz Sharif a lot of development projects were initiated in Balochistan and President Zardari launched Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan.
He stated that Balochistan elders made up their minds to join Pakistan with the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammd Ali Jinnah.
The incumbent PDM MPAs Balochistan were speaking about Balochistan terrorism incidents and said that terrorists were blood thirsty and were opposed to the development of Pakistan and were committing such heinous activities at the behest of foreign forces.
He stated that Balochistan's terrorists were foreign agents who had turned to brutality but would not be acceptable to Pakistan's government and armed forces.
He guaranteed social and economic justice would be brought to the people of Balochistan.
Speaking of the most recent events in Sorab, he stated the nation could not progress without peace.
Discussed conflict with India, he stated on the night of May 6 and 7 and May 10 India had attacked Pakistan but thanks to Allah, Pakistan's armed forces fought fearlessly against the enemy and defeated it, who would never forget its defeat in its lifetime.
He expressed gratitude to people of Pakistan for uniting and standing side by side with the Pakistan army in the conflict.
As prime minister he witnessed all the activities of the short duration war, he added as a courageous and prudent leader Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir commanded Pakistan armed forces towards a triumph over India and made the country proud and the achievement was reminiscent of avenging the situation of 1971.
He stated the enemy was frightened now and the allied nations were self-assured after Pakistan's success.
He remembered that Pakistan had performed six nuclear tests in reply to five blasts of India during 1998, and Nawaz Sharif was the country's leader on that historic day, which strengthened the defence of Pakistan.
Field Marshal Chief of the Army Staff Syed Asim Munir, Acting Balochistan Governor Governor Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and senior military and civilian authorities were present at the occasion.
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