On Monday night, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the “inappropriate language” used at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally held in Islamabad on Sunday. The prime minister made these remarks while addressing a dinner in honor of parliamentarians from various political parties.
The PTI, founded by Imran Khan, held a highly publicized power show in Islamabad a day earlier, featuring intense speeches. During the event, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reportedly used offensive language against his political rivals, including derogatory remarks about his counterpart in Punjab. The chief minister also accused journalists of being “sellouts and brokers” without providing any evidence.
Read more: PM Shehbaz Sharif Calls Professor Muhammad Yunus
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need for political stability and continuity in policies, stating that collective efforts are required to steer the country out of its economic difficulties. He recalled that terrorism had nearly been eliminated from the country under the leadership of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, but was now resurfacing in certain areas. Nonetheless, he pledged to eradicate this threat once again.
He highlighted a decrease in inflation to 9.6% in August 2024, crediting it to the government’s effective economic measures. “Economic experts are predicting a further decline in the inflation rate this month, which is good news for the nation,” he said, recalling that when they left office in 2018, inflation was in single digits.
The prime minister attributed recent economic progress to efforts initiated by his government in April 2022 to prevent the country from defaulting. He noted that the economic team had not only stabilized the economy but also set it on a path to growth.
Read more: PM Shehbaz Pledges Support to Armed Forces in Fight Against Terrorism
The dinner was attended by members of the National Assembly and Senate from the government’s allied parties. Shehbaz Sharif reiterated his commitment, as “Khadim-e-Pakistan,” to alleviate the people’s hardships at all costs, and stated that the positive effects of the economic reforms were beginning to reach the population. He also emphasized that the country could not achieve development without improving the lives of ordinary citizens.
Regarding power tariffs, the prime minister mentioned that the government was taking steps to provide maximum relief to low-income segments of society. Additionally, he stated that a process of right-sizing and downsizing government offices had begun to reduce expenditures.