NEW DELHI: Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif praised India’s achievements in space exploration during an address to members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Islamabad. Sharif, who is vying for the prime ministerial position once again, lauded India’s progress while highlighting the economic challenges facing Pakistan and emphasized the need for self-reflection.
Addressing the PML-N cadre, Sharif said, “Our neighbors have reached the moon, but we haven’t even risen from the ground so far.It can’t keep going on like this.”
Attributing Pakistan’s struggles to internal factors, he added, “We have been responsible for our own downfall; otherwise, this nation would have reached a different place.”
Sharif, who has faced multiple ousters from power, questioned the blame game and pointed out the progress made by the Pakistan government under him which included ending severe electricity load shedding in 2013, countering terrorism and initiating development projects.
The former prime minister also drew attention to inflation, citing the increase in the price of roti from PKR 2 to PKR 30. Sharif attributed his legal troubles to ‘fake cases’ and called for accountability from conspirators behind his 2017 ouster.
In a call for national development, Sharif urged Pakistan to prioritize women’s participation. “Every nation that has developed has prioritized women in development,” he said, advocating for equal opportunities for women.
Nawaz Sharif, the three-time prime minister, plans to contest elections from the Mansehra region of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa which will mark his return to Pakistani politics after a four-year self-imposed exile.