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PM Touts Unprecedented Cooperation Between Govt and Institutions to Address Challenges

In a strong statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has claimed that the coalition government and national institutions are in “unprecedented harmony and cooperation” to serve the country’s interests and steer it out of the prevailing challenges.

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Addressing the Ulema and Mashaikh Conference in Islamabad on Thursday, the prime minister said that the level of collaboration between the political government and institutions is something he has never witnessed in his political career.

“I had never seen such cooperation in my political career,” the premier stated.

PM Shehbaz asserted that the cooperation between the military establishment and the government is a “role model” for the future, emphasizing that the country has never needed unity and national harmony more.

Highlighting the challenges facing Pakistan, the prime minister called for learning lessons from past weaknesses and mistakes, and making sincere efforts to develop the country. He particularly stressed the need to wipe out the “Fitna al Khawarij” – a term referring to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan – which he said was involved in anti-Pakistan activities despite claiming to be Pakistani.

Addressing the May 9 attacks, the prime minister described the incident as the “most heart-wrenching” in the country’s history, and noted that the characters behind the tragedy of 1971 had met their fate in Bangladesh amid the recent developments.

On the economic front, the prime minister stated that the government is making all-out efforts to address the challenges and expects the upcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) program to be the last one. He said the coalition government is in consultation to work out a comprehensive plan to ease the burden on the inflation-stricken people, and the provinces will soon announce their respective plans.

The prime minister emphasized that economic stability, productive employment, and reforms in the FBR and power sector are crucial, and that the IMF program is a necessity to achieve these goals.