LAHORE: Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that his party and its coalition partners made significant sacrifices to stabilize Pakistan after assuming power in 2022. He also mentioned that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to return to Pakistan on October 21 to unveil his economic recovery plan to take the country out of economic crisis.
During a press conference in Punjab’s Lahore on Friday, Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged that their government faced challenges and did not succeed in every aspect, but he believed they had given their best effort.
He highlighted that the government had to confront severe floods, sit-ins, and long marches, with the political disruptions reaching their peak on May 9, which he referred to as an ‘attack’ on Pakistan.
India Adopts Nawaz Sharif’s Economic Model from 1990: Shehbaz Sharif
Shehbaz also noted that India had adopted Nawaz Sharif’s economic model from the party’s first government in 1990. However, at that time, Pakistan’s president was not supportive of these reforms.
He further mentioned that during Nawaz’s second government, Pakistan became a nuclear power despite immense international pressure. He also pointed out Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit to Pakistan and the symbolic recognition of Pakistan’s existence at the Minar-e-Pakistan as a ‘moral victory.’
Shehbaz emphasized that the Kargil War had disrupted Pakistan’s stability, but Nawaz Sharif had made sacrifices to protect the country.
He added that Nawaz had overcome obstacles to establish the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and had even called General Raheel Sharif to ensure the Chinese president’s visit despite a sit-in, although the sit-in ultimately persisted.
Shehbaz also brought up Nawaz’s ousting based on an iqama (work permit), despite his name not being directly mentioned in the Panama Papers.
Shehbaz Sharif stated that the PDM-led government had not only repaired the country’s economy but also restored Pakistan’s damaged foreign relations from the previous administration.
