Islamabad (Web Desk): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar on Friday said that Pakistan’s economy is not only stable but is now progressing, despite efforts by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to create unrest and disorder.
During a press conference, Tarar emphasized that the country’s economic recovery is now starting to benefit the common man, pointing to significant drops in the prices of wheat, flour, and petroleum products, as well as a reduction in electricity tariffs.
The minister highlighted that all key economic indicators are showing improvement, with foreign exchange reserves surpassing the $11 billion mark and foreign remittances on the rise.
He attributed these positive changes to the tireless efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stating that the government’s initiatives were the driving force behind the economy’s recovery and growth.
Tarar also announced that a high-level delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would soon visit Pakistan to explore potential investment opportunities. He praised the prime minister for his success in attracting foreign investment, noting the contributions of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Azerbaijan, which recently committed to a $2 billion investment in Pakistan.
Additionally, Tarar mentioned that PM Shehbaz would travel to Saudi Arabia on November 10 to participate in the Riyadh Summit, where discussions on the Palestine issue and broader Middle East matters are expected.
He emphasized that the prime minister has consistently raised the issue of Palestine and the Gaza crisis at various international forums, including the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Turning to PTI’s ongoing political activities, Tarar criticized the party for planning another protest march towards Islamabad.
He labeled PTI’s efforts as a "Tehreek-e-Inteshar" (movement of discord), accusing them of deliberately trying to destabilize the country for the sake of securing concessions for their imprisoned leader, Imran Khan. He firmly stated, "They will not get any NRO," referring to the notion of a political amnesty.
Tarar also addressed the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), claiming that the provincial government was misusing its authority to suppress teachers' rights.
He urged the provincial government to listen to the teachers' grievances and take meaningful steps to address the educational crisis in the region.
"The government in KP is focused more on protest rallies than on solving the pressing issues of education and youth development," he said.
The information minister went on to criticize the KP government’s lack of a development agenda, adding that the provincial leadership’s primary focus appeared to be on organizing protests rather than addressing the needs of young people and the region’s underdeveloped sectors.
In his remarks on PTI’s role in the political landscape, Tarar also criticized the party for undermining national institutions.
He pointed out that PTI’s efforts to bring Pakistan to the brink of default, including their correspondence with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), had failed.
"Despite their attempts to weaken national institutions, Pakistan has come out of danger and successfully secured an agreement with the IMF," he stated.
Tarar further commented on the recent defeat of PTI-backed candidates in the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) elections, describing it as a clear sign of diminishing support for the party.
"The results show that PTI’s claim of widespread popularity is nothing but a myth," he said.
Shifting focus to the national cricket scene, Tarar expressed pride in the Pakistan cricket team’s recent victory over Australia in Adelaide.
He said the team’s success, alongside their ongoing progress in the ODI series against Australia and the recent Test series win against England, signaled the start of a new chapter for Pakistan cricket.
On the foreign policy front, Tarar reaffirmed the strong relationship between Pakistan and China, noting that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) remains central to the country’s development. He stated that with the completion of the second phase of CPEC, Pakistan's ties with China would reach new heights.
Finally, responding to questions about Imran Khan’s legal troubles, Tarar dismissed the idea of any special treatment for the PTI leader.
He made it clear that Khan would have to face the courts and defend himself on charges of corruption. "There is no other way out for him," Tarar concluded.
