ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday attributed the sacrifices of the country’s armed forces to past “blatant mistakes and wrong decisions,” which, he said, had resulted in the release of thousands of terrorists, allowing them to regroup.
Speaking at a federal cabinet meeting, the prime minister strongly condemned the recent attack in Kalat, which claimed the lives of 18 soldiers. He also visited the injured, commending their bravery and resilience.
“Our martyrs and ghazis are laying down their lives to safeguard Pakistan,” he stated, emphasizing the need to avoid repeating past mistakes that had enabled terrorism to resurface.
The prime minister also led prayers for the martyred soldiers and a government official who was killed in Peshawar while on polio duty.
Economic Improvements and Saudi Support
Addressing economic matters, PM Shehbaz noted that inflation had fallen to a nine-year low in January, crediting the improvement to coordinated efforts by various stakeholders.
“Our next focus is on driving economic growth,” he said.
He also revealed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had dispatched a delegation to Pakistan, leading to the restoration of the suspended Saudi oil facility. Under the agreement, Saudi Arabia will provide a deferred payment facility worth $1.2 billion on oil imports, strengthening Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves.
Additionally, he announced Saudi Arabia’s approval of a $40 million water scheme for Hazara and the construction of King Salman Hospital in Pakistan.
Agricultural Tax and Ramadan Relief Measures
In a major policy move, PM Shehbaz thanked the chief ministers of all provinces for approving the imposition of an agricultural tax, noting that Balochistan and Sindh had already ratified it.
While acknowledging that the tax was a key requirement of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he stressed that it was essential for economic stability.
With Ramadan approaching, the prime minister assured that the government would introduce relief packages, but this time without involving utility stores due to complaints from the previous year.
