Pakistani vice-prime minister Ishaq Dar said that “if my advice had been followed in 2017, we should not have asked for help for the next five years”.
Addressing Pakistanis abroad in New York, Dar also said that in 2017, Pakistan had become the 24th largest economy in the world “, but after that, the country has been on the verge of the bankruptcy”.
“Despite all the political challenges, we managed to prevent Pakistan from going bankrupt,” he added.
He also discussed improvements in the economy, claiming: “Inflation has decreased, the policy rate has been reduced and there are now signs of economic stability. Before the 2013 elections, Pakistan was considered Like an economically unstable country, but after winning, we have reversed things and improved economic indicators in just three years.
DAR stressed that between 2013 and 2017, inflation was reduced to 3.6%, interest rates dropped to 5% and the pressure drop was completely eliminated. “We have also invested massively in the fight against terrorism, which brought peace to the country. With operations like Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-Ul-Fasad, the lights of Karachi returned and for the first time, Pakistan has succeeded in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
“At that time, the global financial institutions rented the economy of Pakistan, and they even predicted that we would join the G20 by 2030. But after the change of government in 2018, our economy weakened and fell to The 47th place, approaching bankruptcy, “he said.
Dar stressed: “When the Government of the Democratic Movement of Pakistan (PDM) took over in 2022, we had to put aside political interests to save the country of bankruptcy. If my council in 2017 had been taken, we would not have encountered these problems. “
He added: “When I had another chance in 2023, I worked to bring the economy back to stability. Inflation fell to 6.4%, interest rates went from 22% At 12%, and our exchange reserves and our exports have increased.
Tackling the question of terrorism, Dar said: “In 2014, we allocated substantial financial resources to fight terrorism, which has restored peace. But now, terrorism overlooks, and the lack of continuity of the continuity of policies is to blame.
He concluded by saying: “In Pakistan, the government changes frequently, but everyone should work for the improvement of the country. If the previous government had taken our economy from the 24th to the 20th position, I would have appreciated this, But instead, they brought it to 47th, and that cannot be congratulated. “
Vice-Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to support and facilitate the Pakistani diaspora.
It has also noted a significant growth in sending funds, exports and overall economic performance, highlighting the country’s current reforms to attract investments and improve trade.
He made a special mention of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) as an instrumental mechanism for the promotion of investments in the country.
Dar urges Muslim countries to unite for Palestine
Ishaq Dar also urged Muslim countries to work collectively to preserve the interests of Palestine and the principles and objectives of Arab and Muslim Ummah.
He spoke during a briefing to the OIC group in New York at the embassy.
Ishaq Dar said the Gaza War had catastrophic consequences for the Palestinian people.
He added that Pakistan supported the pursuit of diplomacy to preserve the cease-fire agreement of Gaza and the negotiation and implementation of its second and third phases.
The vice-minister of foreign affairs has urged to oppose rigorously to the proposals for the expulsion of the Palestinians of their homeland.
He added that we have to launch concrete steps to secure the two -state solution.
Ishaq Dar reaffirmed the unshakable support of Pakistan for the just fight of the Kashmir People and called on the international community to seek a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and cashmere dispute in accordance with the resolutions and wishes of the relevant United Nations Security Council of the Cursed People .
He also expressed his unshakable Pakistan commitment to advance the common objectives of the UN OIC.
