Positive indicators have emerged in GDP. The government is working on fulfilling the promise it made to the nation. Foreign Minister's address to the press conference
Thursday, January 2, 2025
Islamabad (UrduPoint News - 02 January 2025) Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan’s diplomatic isolation has ended while the country’s economy is moving towards improvement. In the year 2024, the government controlled the challenges in a better way. The government is trying to fulfill its promises to the nation. Government measures have significantly reduced inflation and interest rates. Hopefully, 2025 will also prove to be the best for Pakistan.
While holding a press conference in Islamabad, Ishaq Dar said that Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has been appointed as Pakistan’s ambassador to France. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch will assume her responsibilities in France in the next few days and the new spokesperson of the Foreign Office will give a briefing from next week. He said that 2024 was an important year for us. After the elections, the people gave a mandate to the PML-N. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was elected. There were many challenges. It was said that Pakistan was suffering from diplomatic isolation. Work started in all sectors during our time.
The Foreign Minister said that the Prime Minister has put the Udan Pakistan roadmap before the nation. Pakistan has a 5-year plan in June. The Prime Minister presented the economic roadmap to the nation on December 31. The policy rate has come down from 22 to 13 percent. Inflation has come down to around 5 percent. Foreign exchange reserves are increasing. Ishaq Dar said that positive indicators have emerged in the GDP. The government is also working on what it promised the nation. There was a lot of electricity burden on the people. There were many reasons for this. During Nawaz Sharif's tenure, the dollar was worth Rs 104. The dollar rate has reached the sky. Its impact is painful. He said that the rupee has also stabilized since last year. Exports, IT and other sectors are increasing. The Prime Minister first gave a scheme for consumers using up to 200 units. The Punjab government also gave relief to consumers with 200 to 500 units. In the summer, 50 billion rupees were given in electricity bills and up to 57 billion rupees were given in Punjab. Ishaq Dar said that the inflation storm used to come every week, but now it is not there. Inflation has now come to 5 percent. The Prime Minister gave relief in electricity bills with all his courage and effort. Summer is coming again. The Prime Minister is working more for electricity relief.
The Foreign Minister said that it was said that we were suffering from diplomatic isolation. This was almost true. Our effort was to increase our diplomatic footprint. Neighboring countries, Central and South Asian countries were on the government's agenda. In the last one year, the narrative of diplomatic isolation has blown up. Today, Pakistan is fully activated. The Foreign Office is fulfilling its responsibilities in all forums.
He said that efforts were made for 10 months in 2024. On the first day, he said in the Foreign Office that he would also work on economic diplomacy. Now, economy is the name of the game in the world. Civil nuclear energy was heavily criticized. By the grace of God, the world accepted it at the Civil Nuclear Energy Summit. We had finalized the Chashma Five agreement with the PDM government. The Chashma Five project with China has started.
Ishaq Dar said that Chashma Five will be successfully completed. During the time of Nawaz Sharif, K2 and K3 nuclear projects were started in Karachi. Both K2 and K3 projects are of 2500 MW capacity. Both projects have been successfully completed. Ishaq Dar said that the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia came to Pakistan in April at our invitation, very successful meetings were held, multilateral and global issues were discussed, a high-level delegation from Iran also visited Pakistan, the World Economic Forum was held in Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan participated in the World Economic Forum.
The Foreign Minister said that we have fully represented Gaza, Jammu and Kashmir in important events. We have also raised our voice against Islamophobia while representing Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Israeli barbarity in Gaza at various forums. The Prime Minister boldly took up the Gaza issue. As a member of the OIC family, it is our duty to raise our voice for Gaza.
Ishaq Dar said that the Prime Minister and I have raised our voice for Gaza at every forum. We have also taken some practical steps. We have also sent aid to Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. Hospitals in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria have been almost destroyed. We have given admission to medical students in educational institutions of Pakistan. Palestinian students have started their studies in Lahore, Islamabad and other cities.
He said that millions of people, including innocent children and women, have been martyred in Gaza. A meeting was also held in Oman where a strong voice was raised for Gaza. The Prime Minister visited China in June where 23 MoUs were signed. Work is underway on 23 MoUs. Discussions were held on the phase two of CPEC, which is being implemented. He said that ML-1 Karachi to Hyderabad and other projects are being implemented. The Prime Minister visited Tajikistan in July. The United National General Assembly meeting in September was also important. The Prime Minister fulfilled the duty of representing Pakistan. The Prime Minister raised a strong voice for Kashmir, Gaza and Palestine.
He said that PIA's technical and security standing is better than many European airlines. This is an international rating, we do not do it. The rating is done by looking at safety, regulation, operations and all other things. In the past, a conspiracy was hatched against PIA. Ishaq Dar said that 67 billion rupees annually came from the UK and 17 billion rupees from European Union countries. 84 billion rupees were lost annually for so many years. This is not a small loss. Is there anyone in this country who can hold someone accountable or ask someone.
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