ISLAMABAD :(Parliament Times) Â Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the government has achieved significant progress in tackling major challenges confronting Pakistan.
He was addressing 40th Export Awards ceremony of Federal of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Islamabad today (Thursday).
The Prime Minister said as against 18 hours of load shedding before 2013, the government has been able to eliminate load shedding for industry and the menace would also be over for the domestic consumer by 2018.
He said the government is even planning beyond 2018 as Pakistan has to move forward irrespective of who is in power.
Mian Nawaz Sharif said no government in the past tried to seriously address the challenge of terrorism but the present government took it head on. He said back of terrorists has been broken and their remnants would also be taken to task.
He expressed the confidence Pakistan has better future.
He said the government also took measures to address the challenge of lawlessness in Karachi resulting into resumption of normal life in the mega city and the momentum built so far would be taken forward. He said operation in Karachi would continue till satisfaction of the people and the business community.
The Prime Minister pointed out that exports last month grew by 6.2% as against same month last year due to provision of uninterrupted power supply, announcement of zero rated export facility for five sectors and sales tax refunds of 45 billion rupees besides improvement in overall law and order situation.
He, however, said the businessmen should take full advantage of the improved situation and increase exports.
The Prime Minister said the government would provide all possible incentives to industry and farmers to increase production and exports. He said it would be priority of the government to take measure to bring down the cost of doing business.
He said the government is also concentrating on revival of national institutions like Pakistan Railways and PIA.
He said CPEC especially development of Gwadar would prove to be a game changer and will have tremendous impact on overall development of Balochistan.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said despite having numerical strength, PML (N) preferred to allow formation of a coalition government in Balochistan and PTI government in KPK. He said PTI now stands exposed as it failed to fulfill its pledges of bringing about a change in KPK.
He said major portions of Karachi to Peshawar six-lane motorway would be completed by 2018. Karachi-Hyderabad section would be ready in six month; contract is being awarded for Hyderabad-Sukkur section while Multan-Lahore and Karachi-Peshawar segments are under-construction.