Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stated that while IMF programs bring economic stability, they do not lead to national development, and by the grace of Allah, economic stability has now been achieved.
Addressing the launch ceremony of the Prime Minister’s Digital Youth Hub in Islamabad, the Prime Minister expressed hope that the current IMF program would be the last, as Pakistan’s debt has only increased over the past 77 years.
He stated that a staff-level agreement has been reached with the IMF, but it is a one-billion-dollar loan, not something the country has earned.
The Prime Minister emphasized that through the hard work and skills of the younger generation, a life of debt must be transformed into a life of dignity. He pledged to work to free the country from debt, adding that farmers, industrialists, and youth must be economically empowered.
He stressed the importance of enabling Pakistani youth to obtain respectable employment, announcing plans to reduce other expenditures to allocate more funds for youth training. He vowed to continue serving Pakistan as a humble servant.
The Prime Minister added that investing in youth is key to Pakistan’s progress. Providing quality skills in IT, AI, and vocational training would turn the youth into valuable assets.
He also revealed that in the past three weeks, the government treasury received Rs. 34 billion — funds that were previously stuck due to court stay orders obtained by banks.
