Proactive govt policies helped in restoring normality in Karachi: PM Abbasi

KARACHI: Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Sunday that proactive policies and a pragmatic approach adopted by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government have contributed towards restoration of normality in Karachi.

Talking to members of the business community from the provincial metropolis, he said that being in Karachi and witnessing the enthusiasm of Karachiites in connection with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final match was a source of extreme joy and satisfaction for him as the head of the government.

Due to concerted efforts of the PML-N government, industrialists and investors were more confident today, adding that the local business was now focusing more on investing domestically rather than moving their capital to other parts of the world, the prime minister said.

While emphasising that PML-N would complete its tenure on May 31, he said the major objective of any government was to strengthen the economy and maintain law and order. “By the grace of Allah, our government has accomplished these targets,” he added.

PM Abbasi further said that our national resources were limited and at times difficult decisions have to be made. “Despite all odds, we did our best to maintain a steady graph of economic growth,” he said.

He also said that the incumbent government was focussed towards achieving 6 per cent growth rate, however, owing to the politics of sit-ins and Panama Papers controversy, the economy had to suffer.

He said that strong economy was crucial for national stability and urged the business community to play their role in raising exports and streamlining industrial growth in Pakistan.

He urged the business community to play an active role in this regard and assured them that they would always be kept on board in matters related to economic development.

The prime minister claimed that the current government had been able to realise most of its commitments made under its election manifesto in 2013, adding the country had managed to overcome energy crisis. He also said that that the inception of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had put the country on the path of development.

“Work on infrastructure development taken during our tenure is exemplary in national history and has opened fresh vistas of progress and prosperity for all the citizens of the country,” PM Abbasi claimed.

On the occasion, he also registered his reservations about the recent election of Senate chairman and regretted that integrity of the parliament was compromised which was not a good omen for the democratic culture in the country.

Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Advisor to PM Miftah Ismail and Special Assistant Mussadaq Malik were also present on the occasion.