Two-year ago when Pakistan
Muslim League – N (PML-N) came into power, the economy as well as the social
setup of Pakistan was downward spiral and admittedly, victory in May 2013
general elections was a greater responsibility which people levied upon PML-N
leadership to rid the country of this spiral. Today, the government has
completed two years and made significance achievements enabling every state
department to grow faster, however, before going to visualize what that landmark
performance the government has delivered to the people, this is also essential
to portray a brief scenario of the situation prevailing in Pakistan two years
ago.
In fact, energy crises and terrorism were the two main problems the entire
nation was suffering from. Above and beyond, lower level domestic & foreign
investment, industrial growth along with high level unemployment, record
inflation and high level of load-shedding were also making common life hard to
survive. Economic growth had decreased by 30% resulting in high level inflation.
Rate of interest was also soaring high causing investment to decline rapidly.
The budget deficit was also mammoth and foreign exchange reserves were rapidly
ending what that the economy was close to collapse due to huge burden of foreign
loans.
While framing the primitive soup theory to overcome the economic and social
problems, PML-N government under the headship of Prime Minister Mian Nawaz
Sharif preferred to overcome root of every economic problem and the best option
for them to beat electricity load-shedding. For this purpose, Rs 500 million
circular-debts, the main cause for lower electricity production was paid without
any delay. Consequently, electricity production increased by 1700 MW and
electricity supply gets better. At the time when PML-N came into power,
electricity shortage was 7000 MW therefore government has setup the target to
add 21000 MW electricity to national grid within the next 8 to 10 years and
launched many power generation projects.
Following are some detail about the projects being installed by the government
to sustain electricity crises in Pakistan. Govt. has started groundbreaking
power project at Port Qasim; 10 coal-fired power projects with a capacity of 660
MW each were being initiated at Gadani in Baluchistan, which would add in total
6600 MW electricity to the national grid. 3500 MW electricity will be generated
from the Diamer Bashah Dam in Gilgit Baldistan and 950 MW from Neelum-Jhelum
power project next year. 1320 MW project consisting on small projects in
Jamashoro, Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffargarh, Sahiwal and Jhang is being installed.
Nandipur Thermal Power Project has been completed a long time ago and
successfully adding 425 MW in the system. 969 MW will be available adding the
expansion work on Tarbela iv and v project and this will be completed in 2017
with total production of 2760 MW power. UCH 2 404 MW along with independent
power plant at Dera Murad Jamali have been constructed which will add an
aggregate of 990 MW electricity to the national grid. Diamer-Basha and Dasu dams
are under construction and will add 9000 MW in the future.
Now these landmarks projects in energy sector would put back the country from
darkness to light. China has also promised to install many energy projects worth
USD 6 billion in the next five years. Foundation of atomic energy plant has also
been laid in Karachi. China will provide technical and financial assistance for
this project, which will produce 2200 MW electricity till the end of 2017. The
government strategy to convert furnace power plants into coal power plants
aiming at minimizing extra burden on the import of oil and to provide people
with electricity at lower prices will also minimize trade deficit.
The shuttered down economy was also a big challenge. Efficient economic policy
is triggering economic and business cycle of Pakistan which is further easing
common life to grow. Inflation and economic growth have decreased by 4.2 % and
4.4 % respectively which were 10 % and 3% two-years ago. Exports and foreign
receipts have increased by 2.73% and 13.7%. Revenue collection have been
increased up to Rs. 2226 billion which were Rs. 1946 billion before
consequently, it has decreased budget deficit from 8.8% to 5.5%.
Trade deficit is decreased by 2.55% which has also been verified by IMF and
World Bank. Recently, foreign reserved has reached at record level of USD 18
billion. Government has successfully issued USD 2 billion Euro Bonds. 3G & 4G
radio technology has been auctioned which has successfully returned in meeting
target of Rs. 120 billion however, previous government made the same auction
with a target of Rs. 79 billion. IMF and Asian Development Bank have restarted
their normal official activities in Pakistan which proves their confidence over
the policies and performance of recent government. Possibilities of foreign
invest is also sure and to sustain foreign investment in energy sector, talks
are being initiated between government and American companies.
The signed USD 46 billion agreement of Pak-China economic corridor is another
landmark achievement of PML-N government, which will not only open the new
avenues of relationship in trade and economy between two countries but also open
new vistas for development in the whole region. According to the agreement, 2700
KM motorway, 200 KM long tunnels with 70 main bridges will be constructed which
will generate employment opportunity in the country. The experts have termed the
corridor as ‘game changer in the region’.
PML-N government has strived hard to secure GSP Plus status for Pakistan. It is
estimated that now after achieving GSP Plus status, Pakistani exports to the
European market will increase by USD 2 billion per year.
In foreign relations, PML-N government has established a new era of friendship
and cordial relations with China, UK, USA, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar,
Afghanistan, South Korea, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kirgizstan and Turkmenistan
etc. Regional connectivity for regional prosperity by entrenching bilateral
relations with Central Asian Muslim neighbors and by reinstalling past projects
in energy sectors is also the top most priority of foreign policy. PM Nawaz and
President Mamnoon Hussein have visited Central Asian states in this regard and
urged their leaderships to speed up the process to accomplish past projects i.e.
CASA-1000 and TAPI (both projects are essentials to sustain energy supply). For
the same purpose PM Nawaz also urged Indian leadership to restore peace talks
and settle Kashmir dispute so that India and Pakistan may equally be benefited
by regional connectivity.
In the vision of one nation and harmony along with Sindh and Baluchistan and
Sindh provinces, PM Nawaz Sharif announced to launch Green Line Metro Bus
Service in Karachi, Water Supply Project, Karchi-Lahore Motorway, Metro Bus
Service in Multan, Gawadar-Kashghar Motorway. Pakistan Metro Bus (Rawalpindi,
Islamabad metro bus) service has been started; people are enjoying its service
and saving their precious time and money.
For the reduction of unemployment, PML N government has also announced Micro
Interest Free Loans Scheme, which focuses on those segments of society who are
financially weak. In these schemes are Small Business Loans, Youth Training
Scheme, Youth Skill Development Scheme, Fee Payment for under privileged Areas
and PM Scheme for Provision of Laptops also has been included.
Now let us turn spot light on the government efforts to counter terrorism, the
most unwanted paralysis and bringing it to an end was also the biggest challenge
the government had to face to restore peace in Pakistani society. During last
two years, recent government has also faced various terrorist attacks committed
by Taliban militants and its linked organizations. The most infamous was the
attack on innocent children in Army Public School, Peshawar; 142 people
including 132 innocent children were slain. This incident alarmed the global
humanity and huge pressure was levied upon the government to take a decisive
action to rid Pakistani society of this curse of terrorism. Regardful to the
government efforts and strategies adopted in collaboration with Pakistan army
and other law enforcement agencies, the counter terrorism approach has been very
effective. After when all the negotiation talks between government and Taliban,
which were being initiated on the consult of all political parties, have proven
failure, on 15 June 2015, government decided to launch a grand operation called
‘Zarb-i-Azb’ against terrorist militants. In general, this operation was a
consequent of Army Public School attack, therefore all the political parties
have stood by government and they altogether full heartedly supported Pakistan’s
army as the whole nations now wanted to end the curse of terrorism.
PM Nawaz also carried on talks with the Afghan president on this issue. Army
Chief General Raheel Shareef also visited Taliban and provided them with proofs
that the terrorists involved in Peshawar school attack belonged to Afghanistan.
Afghan president and their army commander affirmed to stand by Pakistan in this
cause to end Taliban’s terrorist from Afghanistan as well from Pakistan. During
Zarb-i-Azb, drowns attacks and land activities were also made by Afghan Army in
which more than 21 terrorists were killed. Before Reheel Shareef visited to
Kabul, he had also paid an official visit to USA and removed misunderstandings
of Americans against Zarb-i-Azb and convinced them for the positive approach
being adopted by Pakistan to end terrorism which smoothed process of
Pakistan-American relations.
In fact, without effective participation of Afghan government, elimination of
terrorism is absolutely not possible therefore PM Nawaz re-established good
terms of Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan. Consequently, Afghan president
visited Pakistan and strongly affirmed to improve relations to eradicate
terrorism and to cooperate for bilateral trade. Later on, Afghan army chief also
visited Islamabad on 23 December, 2014 and emphasized on visualizing common
framework to counter terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Hence, assertive confidence of America and Afghanistan on Zard-i-Azb speeded up
Pakistan’s military operation against Taliban terrorists which has resulted in
the removal of 90% Taliban from sensitive areas of Pakistan. Government, army
and political leaders have agreed upon an Action Plan to counter terrorism,
implementation upon which is still being carried out and resulting in reduction
in terrorist activities and target killing in Karachi and life there and other
insecure parts of Pakistan is being normalized.
Collectively, the situation of peace and security is much better now in
Pakistan. The occurrence of suicide bombing is nominal and the extremely
sensitive areas have been clean swept from terrorists. The ratio of crimes like
dacoities and extortions has also fallen.
We are witnessing that, this government is speedy overcoming the formidable
economic and social problems since it came into the power. These landmark
achievements show that the completion of five-year tenure of the PML-N
government would be the largest interest of the Pakistan and for the Journey
towards the development and accomplishment of the dreams of “Asian Tiger”. Now
peoples should have to motivate to help the government in the best interest of
the country and uplifting the life of common man.