— says first instalment from the IMF will be received this month
— lauds COAS role in securing $3 billion from KSA, UAE
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday asked Sweden to take “serious action” against the desecration of the Holy Quran and demanded that a proper investigation should be conducted into the incident “without any interference”.
The premier’s remarks come after a man desecrated the Holy Quran in Sweden’s capital Stockholm last week, resulting in strong condemnation from several states, including Pakistan, Turkiye, Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Iraq and Iran.
Sweden’s government also condemned the incident, calling it an “Islamophobic” act.
A day earlier, the 57-state Organisation of Islamic Council (OIC), in an “extraordinary” meeting in Saudi Arabia, said collective measures were needed to prevent acts of desecration of the Holy Quran and international law should be used to stop religious hatred.
It also urged member states to “take unified and collective measures to prevent the recurrence of incidents of desecration of copies of the” Holy Quran.
Addressing the federal cabinet on Monday, PM Shehbaz said the Pakistani people and government condemned the “disgusting incident” that took place in Sweden.
“Unfortunately, this is not the first incident to take place … such heart-wrenching incidents have taken place previously as well. They highlight that Muslims in Sweden, who are a minority, are facing Islamophobia and hatred,” he said.
“The Pakistani government condemns this narrative made of hatred and discrimination,” he asserted and urged the Swedish government to take action.
Referring to the OIC statement released on Sunday, PM Shehbaz said the council also demanded that the culprit should be “heavily investigated” and such incidents should be prevented in the future.
“Pakistan’s government supports the OIC decision and hopes that nothing as such would take place in the future,” he stated, adding that the Foreign Office would follow up on the matter.
PM lauds COAS role in securing $3 billion from KSA, UAE
During the cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister also heaped praise on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir during a cabinet meeting for his “key role” in securing $3 billion from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that eventually contributed to securing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout.
“Army Chief General Asim Munir played a key role in bringing $2 billion from Saudi Arabia and $1 billion from the UAE,” the premier told the cabinet meeting.
He briefed the cabinet about the nine-month standby agreement that his government reached with the Washington-based lender last week. He also thanked IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva for her role in the bailout package.
“The first instalment from the IMF will be received in July,” PM Shehbaz told the ministers. He added that China helped Pakistan several months before the deal just like it has done in the past, adding that if Beijing had agreed to roll over $5 billion then things would have been different.
“If the deal with the IMF had not been settled then the matter would have been different,” he added.
However, the prime minister said that the nine-month agreement was a “temporary relief” for the country, adding that it was a moment of concern, not a matter of “pride”.
He also urged all the national institutions to make concerted efforts to rid the country of loans and put it on the course to progress.
“While keeping in their respective jurisdictions, the institutions should make united efforts for at least the next 15 years to address the country’s economic woes,” he went on to say. He added that the country’s deliverance from loans required a vision, unity, hard work and sacrifice by the affluent people.
“If we opt for this course, no one can stop Pakistan from achieving progress,” he remarked.
“I pray that this is the last IMF deal. But this is easier said than done,” he commented and mentioned that the state-owned enterprises like Steel Mills, PIA and others were eating up around Rs600 billion annually.
Premier Shehbaz said that during the remaining 40-42 days of the government’s term, the cabinet members should make efforts to leave behind a policy framework providing a roadmap and a vision for future development.
