PM Shehbaz advises forbearance to nation as govt, IMF deal nears

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged the nation to be patient as the country faces difficult times. He expressed hope that these challenges will soon be overcome.

He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Green Line Express Train held in Islamabad.

The premier also announced that an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be signed this month. He reassured the public that the coalition government is fully committed to the betterment of the nation.

“Nations that face tough times are the ones that ultimately go ahead,” PM Shehbaz said, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and determination in overcoming obstacles.

He urged the nation to come together and work towards a brighter future for the country.

The IMF delegation will be visiting Islamabad from January 31 to February 9 to continue discussions regarding the ninth review of the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

The prime minister emphasized the adoption of austerity at a massive scale to tackle difficult economic problems.

He said the government had set its priority keeping in view its foreign exchange reserves, thus allowing the import of medicine and food as essential items.

He regretted that the Green Line project, which was initiated during the tenure of then prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was delayed by the previous government in a mala fide.

He endorsed the concept of outsourcing Pakistan Railways to make it better equipped and at par with contemporary services.

The prime minister said Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway track was a top priority for the government and mentioned that China was committed to its early completion.

He pointed out that the previous government indulged in baseless accusations of corruption against Chinese companies, and stressed that the coalition government was working on restoring the ties.