ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly denounced cross-border terrorism in the wake of a deadly attack in North Waziristan, stating that Pakistan won’t tolerate such acts. The premier said that Pakistan’s territorial integrity is a red line.
The Prime Minister was addressing the inaugural meeting of the federal cabinet in Islamabad.
While desiring friendly relations with neighboring countries for economic growth, he firmly rejected terrorism originating from their soil. Shehbaz Sharif proposed a united front against terrorism, believing it crucial for regional peace and addressing poverty.
He expressed hope for cooperation from neighboring countries and reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to combat terrorism, honoring the sacrifices of security forces in this endeavor.
He was referring to the deadly attack on a security forces checkpoint in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan on Saturday, which left seven soldiers, including officers, martyred. The attack prompted Pakistan to take swift action against terrorist hideouts in border areas of Afghanistan, resulting in the death of eight wanted commander terrorists.
He stressed the importance of securing Pakistan’s borders and proposed a joint strategy with sincerity to combat terrorism and promote regional peace and prosperity. Shehbaz Sharif highlighted Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and praised the efforts of security forces. He called for cooperation from neighboring countries to make the region peaceful.
The Prime Minister paid glowing tributes to the sacrifices of the security forces and their families.
The premier pledged to overhaul the country’s economy through stringent reforms across all public sectors. He asserted a zero-tolerance policy towards power theft, tax evasion, and corruption, vowing to take decisive action against those involved.
During the inaugural federal cabinet meeting under his leadership, Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasized the government’s commitment to boost foreign direct investment, broaden the tax base, curb tax evasion, reduce public debt, combat power theft, and enforce strict austerity measures.
He announced plans to digitize the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to prevent tax evasion, with the appointment of a consultant expected next month. The Prime Minister condemned the substantial revenue losses due to mafias engaging in undocumented transactions, estimating trillions of rupees evaded annually.
Furthermore, he urged the expedited resolution of Rs 2.4 trillion worth of tax cases pending in tribunals or courts, seeking support from the Chief Justice of Pakistan for their swift conclusion. He also directed the identification of commendable officers for recognition and vowed punitive measures against corrupt officials.
Acknowledging past efforts in averting economic crises, he stressed the urgency of tackling power theft, which amounted to Rs 500 billion annually. The Prime Minister demanded a comprehensive strategy to eliminate electricity theft and warned against any resistance.
Regarding the IMF program, he expressed satisfaction with the staff-level agreement for the final tranche of US$1.1 billion and indicated the need for another IMF program to strengthen the economic foundation and alleviate debts.
Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted the government’s commitment to enhancing bilateral relations with friendly nations for trade and investment. He announced plans for a Special Investment Facilitation Center (SIFC) to streamline investor processes.
Emphasizing national unity, he called for provincial support in curbing power theft and tax evasion. He paid tribute to armed forces personnel for their sacrifices in safeguarding the country, expressing determination to prevent terrorist infiltration across borders.
