Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has urged the opposition to avoid political point scoring on national issues and respond positively to the government's efforts aimed at devising a strategy enjoying national consensus to defeat militancy and overcome economic downturn.
While talking to the newsmen upon his arrival at the local airport, Foreign Minister said that the purpose behind the on-going in-camera session of the parliament is to finalise a strategy with consensus among all.
For God's sake, do not resort to politicking on the sensitive issue for we want to create national consensus to devise a policy that benefits Pakistan. Foreign Minister said that politicians do score points in politics but added that country was passing through a sensitive stage and can not afford it at this time.
Opposition will have other chances in future to do it, he said. Referring to the troubled situation, Foreign Minister said that this is the problem, Pakistan would have to remain engaged with during coming years too and there is a need to opt for the right course now with consensus among all.
When asked, Foreign Minister said that proposal of PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif regarding formation of a parliamentary committee to overpower troubled situation will be given due respect and consideration.
It has happened for the first time in history that a political government took seriously a sensitive matter and top officials from country's security apparatus gave briefing to the parliamentarians during the in-camera session that followed by a session of question and answers and the process has entered into the debate phase. Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that debate was in progress, suggestions from all the parliamentarians including the opposition were being gathered and debated. He said that it is the earnest desire of the government that this process should yield a set of comprehensive recommendations to successfully deal with the problems confronting the country.
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi dispelled the impression that a final decision has been taken to approach International Monetary Fund (IMF) for economic bailout.
He said that government wants to devise and pursue a home grown economic stabilisation programme that matches the requirements of the country and suits well to the reality on the ground and our domestic conditions.
He said that during the recent press conference, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance, had elaborated plan A, B, and C. He said that IMF is an option due to its concessional credit facility but it is not necessary that this facility will be availed. Country's economic experts including Dr Hafeez Pasha, Dr Akmal Hussain and others are giving advice to the government to carve out a strategy for economic stability.
A presentation will be given to the Prime Minister within next few days by the economic experts and financial managers to provide an insight into the economic situation so that a decision be taken to finalise our options to come out of the troubled waters.
The Foreign Minister said that economic recession is a global phenomenon affecting all the countries including USA, Europe, Far East, and added that Pakistan was also among them.
He said that Pakistan's problems may be more than others but it was only due to the delay by the previous government in taking some strategically important decisions due to political reasons.
This delay created a backlog and the alarming raise in price of oil and food worsened the situation further. However, a comprehensive strategy will soon be devised and executed to steer the country out of trouble, he added.
Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, he introduced the concept of economic diplomacy and made economic growth and economy-based relations a focal point of Foreign Ministry's endeavours for development of the country.
Mentioning recent visit to China, he said that our all interaction mainly focused on broadening economic relations with the all weather friendly country.
Foreign Minister said, Pakistan has deep-rooted and time tested friendly ties with China and added that these ties do not depict the economic nearness. A sincere attempt was made to broaden economic relations and it has paid off, he said adding that China has promised to help build two nuclear power plants including Chashma 3 and Chashma 4 with a combined capacity of 680 megawatt of power.
Moreover, Chinese assistance has also been secured to set Pakistan's first telecom satellite into motion besides assistance in different other sectors including mineral development, agriculture research, banking and others has also been promised. He disclosed that the inaugural meeting of Friends of Pakistan forum will be held in Abu Dhabi to help Pakistan come out of the economic troubles. This forum comprises G-7 industrialised countries including USA, Italy, France, Japan, Saudi Arabia, UAE and others and it will focus on economic and security challenges confronting Pakistan, he added.
Pakistan has been conveying to the world that war on terror has an economic cost, he said adding that its impact was damaging our economic environment. The forum of Friends of Pakistan will also be utilised to convey our message that war on terrorism was taking its toll not only on law and order situation but also on our economy, he said. Tentacles of militancy are global, Foreign Minister said and added that we are convincing the world to support us in our efforts against the menace. Everyone knows we were left alone earlier and it caused us damage, he added.