Pakistan sailing through difficult phase: Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Ousted prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said that Pakistan is passing through an unwelcoming phase and such phases do not favour a nation in any way.

Talking to the media in London, he said, “Today, there are hurdles all around and the country is once again heading towards instability that is apparent from its economic indicators and the stock market.”  He added that certain decisions lead the nations to political instability and economic crunch.

“I had stated at the Quetta gathering that such decisions lead the nations to political instability and finally to the economic crunch,” the disqualified prime minister said.

Nawaz further claimed that the PML-N government, after a continued struggle of four years, had been successful to drive the country on the road to prosperity. “Load-shedding has been curtailed, terrorist incidents have mitigated manifold and CPEC is progressing at a full pace,” he said and added that the situation that has emerged recently, feels like reversing the outcomes of the PML-N government’s policies.

“The situation is deteriorating with stock market dipping to 37,000 points from previously being at 54,000 points. Other economic indicators like slowing down of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and economic growth are also thought-provoking,” the PML-N president said.

Nawaz said that it was a regrettable situation that the economy was once again bearing the brunt of political instability. He added that the power supply was more than the demand as the PML-N government had fulfilled its commitment to steer the people out of the darkness of previous regimes.

The PML-N president also held a meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif in London.