Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that achievement of self-reliance and getting rid of foreign aid is the desire of the whole nation. He said that Pakistan was passing through a critical phase and it was the time to take tough decisions in the interest of national security and survival.
He said that common man was groaning under price-hike and was deprived of even basic amenities, while the elite were enjoying foreign aid and now that class would have to make sacrifices enabling Pakistan to stand on its own feet. He was addressing a consultative meeting of Members of National and Provincial Assemblies at Chief Minister's Secretariat on Tuesday in wake of the decision of the Punjab government to shun foreign assistance. Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Provincial Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Secretary Finance and Chairman Planning & Development were also present.
Chief Minister said that the biggest province of the country had decided to break the begging bowl and in order to implement that decision, practical steps would have to be taken to prove to the world that the living nations could survive for their dignity, honour and sovereignty without foreign assistance. He said that history was witness to the fact that in the war for survival, the nations that took difficult decisions had always succeeded. He said that Pakistan was also fighting for its existence and the whole nation especially the elite would have to render sacrifices. He said that Punjab government had taken a lead in giving up foreign aid and its decision would be supported by the whole nation. He said that such aid and charity could hardly be accepted, which was at the expense of national dignity and blood of innocent citizens and for which violation of aerial space had to be tolerated and the orders of the others had to be obeyed. He said that after the decision, austerity would be promoted and non-developmental expenditure would be curtailed for generating additional resources. He said that it was ironic that while on the one hand charity of others was being accepted, on the other hand, national resources were being robbed.
He demanded that recovery of loans of Rs 270 billion written off on political basis should also be made as the beneficiaries were now the owners of factories, mills, expensive cars and palatial houses. He said that the decision of the government would change the sorrows and miseries of the nation into joys and happiness. He said that getting rid of foreign assistance was an historic event and the nation would have to pass that acid test with commitment and determination.
The participants of the meeting fully supported the decision to turn down foreign aid. They said that it was a bold and historic decision and the voice of the whole nation. They said that nation had pinned its hopes with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Chief Minister had made a momentous decision in the interest of national security and survival and real political freedom. They also expressed full support to the Chief Minister and avowed to make every sacrifice for safeguarding national dignity and honour.