ISLAMABAD: As PML-N’s coalition government marked completion of one year in power, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said year proved full of challenges and hardships for ruling clique. In series of tweets, he said, “Today marks completion of one year since I took oath as PM of coalition government. This has been time of massive challenges and difficulties.” He said passage of no-confidence vote against Imran Niazi’s government was unprecedented not because PDM came into power but because almost all of Pakistan’s political forces came together to use forum of Parliament to vote out an unpopular government through constitutional means.

 He said alliance of political part es with different manifestos joined ranks for common national cause and represented a major step forward in country’s political evolution. He said reconciliation and cooperation, not confrontation and vendetta marked new politics post-April ‘22.

In another tweet, PM Shehbaz said despite economic landmines laid by Imran Khan and disruptions in global fuel and food supply lines, Pakistan’s economy continued to stay afloat. He stated that all predictions of default had turned out to be false alarms. He said sincere efforts were under way to revive economy.

 He said coalition government had been at pains to repair, rebuild and deepen Pakistan’s diplomatic relations that were dealt severe blow by Niazi regime. He said he wanted to inform people that over last one year, they had largely succeeded in establishing Pakistan’s credibility as partner and friend. PM maintained that Pakistan faced unprecedented floods last year. Decisiveness with which government undertook rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts provided social protection to millions of people and mobilised international community. He said inflation had hit people hard globally. Geo-strategic rivalries, increase in prices of fuel and food commodities and historic floods were some of key factors responsible for inflation.

Cherishing PDM government’s efforts, PM said under watch of ruling alliance, Pakistan managed to exit FATF grey list, thanks to excellent inter-ministerial coordination as well as support extended by military leadership. On building public transport infrastructure, he said government, since its inception in April last year, focused on early completion of development and transport infrastructure projects in Islamabad.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 12 2023

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