Newly-elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that all stakeholders should be on the same page to address problems being faced by the country. "A single party cannot resolve problems (currently being) faced by the country.
These problems could be solved amicably if we work in unison. Let us sit together for this purpose. I will formally contact leaderships of other parties to chalk out a strategy to make other countries respect our sovereignty just as we respect theirs. The drone attacks which violate our country's sovereignty must end. We should listen to the concerns of other countries and others should listen to our concerns," these views were expressed by the Prime Minister in his maiden speech in the National Assembly.
He said that the PML-N had prepared a plan to overcome the power crisis and soon he would share it with the people in an address to the nation. "The issues of circular debt, timely payment to oil companies, running power generation units at maximum capacities are some of the short-term measures the upcoming government is considering," he said.
"Our resources are fast depleting. Debt worth billions of rupees debt is increasing. But I assure the people that neither I nor my team will sit idle." He said that a strong infrastructure would be the PML-N government's priority. "There will be zero tolerance for corruption and all corrupt elements will get stern punishments," the Prime Minister said.
Nawaz Sharif said that over the past five years, his party had served as "an ideal opposition" despite allegations of being a 'friendly opposition'. The PML-N, he said, had opposed the previous government on various issues and strengthened the democratic system. "I foresee a bright (future for) Pakistan where minorities' rights will be fully protected," he maintained.
About Balochistan, the Prime Minister said that peace would be restored in the province through a democratic transition to real political parties. "When there is peace in Balochistan, every person living in Punjab or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will rejoice," he said. He said that Karachi was as dear to him as any other part of the country and assured that the federal government would lend all possible support to the Sindh government for restoring the law and order situation in the city.
"We will appoint competent people through a transparent system and boards of governors. We will appoint professional and honest people on key posts at national level and bring best overseas Pakistani professionals through newspaper advertisements," he said. The Prime Minister pointed out that successive dictatorships had weakened the federation, besides fanning terrorism and sectarianism. "Abrogation of the Constitution will not be tolerated," he said.
He said that his government would work for national integrity and supremacy of the Constitution. "We have closed all doors for adventurism. Our support or criticism should be for the sake of the country. We have to decide whether to follow values or go for power," he said. He said that the country was experiencing a "revolution". "We gave chance to PTI to form government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, instead of making it on our own. We also nominated candidates of other parties to the posts of the Chief Minister and Governor of Balochistan despite having majority. "This is for the first time that Baloch leaders will govern the province," he said.
He said that the federal government would cooperate with all provincial governments without any discrimination. On relations with China, Nawaz Sharif praised previous government's move to hand over the management of Gwadar port to China. Referring to his meeting with the visiting Chinese Prime Minister, Li Keqiang, Nawaz Sharif said that they had agreed to build a rail track and road link from Kashgar to Gwadar via Khunjrab, leading to Karachi.
He said that the Chinese premier had asked him for constituting a task force to carry out feasibility of different projects and assured him about forming a similar team in China so that both teams could work in cohesion. He said that this project would also benefit Gilgit-Baltastan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh.
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