Bringing inflation under control is the biggest challenge, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday.
Addressing the federal cabinet, he took stock of the issues and problems affecting the economy and the country.
He said: “Pakistan has to be served with new zeal. Now is the time. do or die.”
He stressed the need for a concerted effort to rein in rampant inflation, saying there are many causes for the issue but the government together with the provincial administrations would consider ways how to manage the prices of essentials.
Shehbaz said: “Elites control 80% of the resources. What is the fault of the poor in electricity theft of 500 billion rupees annually?
“What is the justification for subsidizing the elite?"
He pointed out “The volume of revolving loans has reached 5 thousand billion rupees.
“PIA has a debt of Rs 825 billion. Government employees are being paid by borrowing
He told members of his federal cabinet members to do their best. He said taking up the federal ministries was not a matter of dividing ministries among each other but for a united cause.
He continued: “On February 8, various political parties got the mandate. “ The mandate of all political parties must be respected. ”
He recalled that the coalition of the Pakistan Democratic Movement saved the country from default. Due to our measures, the economy was under control during the caretaker government, he said.
The PM also greeted the members of his federal cabinet for their success in the general elections and for accepting responsibility by becoming federal ministers.