National News

DOHA Qatar, (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz
Sharif Thursday said Pakistan’s economy has witnessed a great
economic turn around and the progress and development was
taking the country forward to a bright future at a fast pace.
He was addressing the Pakistani community here during
his two-day official visit to Qatar.
Prime Minister Sharif shared details of his meetings
with the Qatari leadership and said they particularly lauded
the role of Pakistani community in the development and
progress of Qatar.
He said he was very proud to get a very positive
feedback about the Pakistanis who were working with a
commitment and honesty and using their skills in respective
fields to bring a good name to their country.
He said Pakistan has strong ties with Qatar and wishes
to further strengthen these through enhanced interaction at
all levels.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan’s agreement to import
LNG from Qatar was a landmark deal and would help the country
meet its energy needs. He said it would help Pakistan generate
electricity, produce more fertilizers and use it for domestic
needs.
He said according to the Brent rates the LNG deal would
bring in gas worth US 15 billion dollars, in the next 15 years
on the best rates. He was appreciative of the government of
Qatar for providing the gas at very competitive rates to
Pakistan.
He said in his meetings he mentioned that the bilateral
trade needs to be increased from US 300 million to at least US
one billion annually. He said the import of LNG would also
boost trade figures between the two countries.
He said measures were underway to meet energy shortage
besides cutting down the tariff to benefit the consumers. He
said it would help lower price of products and make these
competitive in international markets.
He said foreign exchange reserves today were at historic
level and said when compared with the situation three years
back a turn around has been witnessed.
The Prime Minister recalled his meetings with President
World Bank and other financial experts who have particularly
noted the positive economic indicators.
He said the security situation in country has improved
after the Zarb-e-Azb operation, which he said has broken the
back of the terrorists and said the operation would be taken
to its logical conclusion. He said the people of Karachi have
also lauded the success of the operation against miscreants.
The Prime Minister said the China Pakistan Economic
Corridor will help the country’s economy. The Gwadar
airport would be one of the most beautiful airports of the
world, he added.
He said his government was working to improve efficiency
of PIA and it would be upgraded to compete with top
international airlines.
Prime Minister Sharif said numerous projects for power
generation were underway and all sources like coal, solar,
wind, thermal were being used, with the help of China.
He said the nation must keep in view the negligence of
the previous governments that did not do their duty of
generating electricity. He said the previous governments were
duty bound to install units for power generation.
He particularly mentioned the investment venture of
China in Pakistan’s energy sector and said the country was in
urgent need to meet its power requirements.
The Prime Minister regretted that no previous government
did their duty of building new roads and motorways and said it
again goes to his government’s credit that a network of roads
and motorways from Pakistan’s border with China to Karachi and
Gwadar were in various phases of construction. He mentioned
the Hazara motorway that would be completed in a year’s time
and the 27 km long tunnels near Attabad lake.
He said had Pakistan continued the phase of development
that he initiated during his earlier previous tenure, the
country would have been at a far better place today.
He also mentioned the demonstration of JF-17 aircraft in
Doha and said he was proud that his government played its part
in the initiation of the project and its successful completion.