ISLAMABAD April 2 (TNS): Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Monday said it was time that the world recognized Pakistan’s sacrifices against terrorism in which thousands of its troops and civilians laid down their lives.
Talking to a delegation of students from London Business School (LBS) at the PM Office, the prime minister said that Pakistan fought this war from its own resources and pointed that the major challenge of terrorism had adversely impacted the economy of the country.
He, however, pointed out that the government worked hard to bring peace and now Pakistan was a vibrant market for investors. He mentioned the recent visit of Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai after almost six years and said it was a manifestation that peace had been restored.
Special Assistant to PM Ali Jahangir Siddiqui was also present during the interaction.
The premier said that the government had established power plants and was planning to construct more than 1700 kilometres of six-lane motorways across Pakistan under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to improve connectivity within the country and with the region.
He said that CPEC’s energy sector projects had brought substantial relief to power consumers.
The prime minister said that there had been a quantum improvement in Pakistan with the democracy taking hold and economic conditions improving.
He said Pakistan recorded 5.7% GDP growth and plans to increase it to 6%. He said Pakistan was a peaceful country and its peaceful nuclear program was a deterrent for those who wanted to destabilize the country and for its sovereignty. He said Pakistan had always strived for bringing peace and stability to the region through dialogue.
Abbasi urged the students to visit various cities of Pakistan and to see for themselves the progress it has made besides witnessing the peace and stability in the country.
