PM Shehbaz says IMF loans cannot lead Pakistan to progress
Vows to end reliance on loans for true growth: Says 'I pray this is our last IMF programme'
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asserted that no country can achieve true development through IMF programmes, emphasising the need for self-reliance, 24NewsHD TV Channel reported on Thursday.
Speaking at the launch ceremony of the Prime Minister's Digital Youth Hub, he highlighted that Pakistan has secured a staff-level agreement for a $1 billion loan but reminded the nation that this was not an earned achievement.
"I pray this is our last IMF programme," PM Shehbaz Sharif said, urging Pakistan's youth to work hard and transform the country's financial future.
PM Shehbaz further stated that investment in youth is the key to success, promising better IT, AI, and vocational training to empower the younger generation.
Reflecting on his tenure as Punjab Chief Minister, he recalled distributing 400,000 free laptops to students and pledged to continue supporting young people through collaborations with provincial governments.
"I will serve Pakistan as its humble worker until we eliminate loans completely," he added.
It is pertinent to mention here that yesterday, during a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz congratulated his economic team on securing the IMF staff-level agreement, calling it a step toward economic stability.
He noted that the deal includes a $1.3 billion resilience and sustainability facility alongside the $7 billion extended fund facility, bringing the total package to $8.3 billion.
While celebrating the agreement, Shehbaz Sharif stressed that the road ahead remains challenging. He vowed to work tirelessly to free Pakistan from debt.
Addressing a launching ceremony of PM Digital Youth Hub
PM Shehbaz reaffirmed his commitment to equip the country’s youth with advanced technological skills, emphasizing the importance of their role in driving the nation’s development and prosperity.
He assured that all necessary resources will be allocated to provide the best training opportunities, enabling young people to become productive contributors to the society.
Shehbaz Sharif said as a Punjab chief minister he disbursed 400,000 laptops among the students who were high achievers in their schools and colleges. “This was the vision for which he worked hard,” he remarked.
He emphasized that youth of Pakistan was a challenge as well as a great opportunity. “If we provide training of Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) led modern technology, they can contribute a lot for the development and prosperity of Pakistan.”
He said if the youth were provided with right opportunity, they could play positive role in making the country one of the leading economy of the world.
Expressing his resolve to provide the best training to the youth, he said the government will ensure all possible resources for their training by cutting down other expenditures.
“Youth are the biggest assets of Pakistan, and we can serve this great asset by equipping them with the best state-of-the-art technologies.”
Referring to the recent staff level agreement with International Monetary Fund (IMF), the prime minister said through IMF programme, the country had achieved stability, but this should be kept in mind that this was the loan ‘which we have to get rid of’. He hoped that this might be the last programme.The prime minister asked the youth to work hard as they could play role in this regard.
He highlighted that during last three weeks, the national exchequer received Rs 34 billion due to the government’s efforts to speed up the tax cases pending in the tribunals for several years.
Chairman Prime Minister Youth Programme Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan on the occasion said that the government was opening up new opportunities to empower youth of the country.
He said through PM Digital Hub, the youth would take benefit in various sectors including sports, tourism, sports, IT, green economy and others.
United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Officer In-charge Sharmeela Rasool said this was a platform of opportunity and hope. She said this programme was aimed at making the youth stronger and a productive people of the country.
Chairman Semiconductor Group Naveed Sherwani said private sector and public sector should put full energy in provision of training to the youth to enable them playing role for the development of the country.
UN Resident Coordinator Muhammad Yahya said the Digital Youth Hub was prepared to make youth capable of exploring their capabilities. This is the start of journey of development and prosperity for Pakistan, he added.