PM Shehbaz again invites PTI for talks for political stability

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the government was still ready to hold talks with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) with sincerity and seriousness to resolve political issues.

Chairing a cabinet meeting on Thursday, he said the government provided a conducive environment for negotiations with the PTI but it ran away, avoiding entering the dialogue process, Radio Pakistan said.

He said the seriousness and sincerity of the government to hold talks with PTI can be judged by the fact that “we constituted a committee with National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in the chair for this purpose. He said PTI did not attend the meeting on January 28 and terminated the parleys unilaterally.”

The prime minister said the country cannot afford any kind of unrest and anarchy. He said dialogue is the only way to proceed further and put the country on the path of development.

Also read: Siddiqui warns of dissolving negotiation committee if PTI avoids fourth round of talks

Turning to the war on terrorism, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to honour and respect the sacrifices rendered by the martyrs and advance Pakistan towards prosperity and security.

He paid glowing tributes to the armed forces of Pakistan, police and other law enforcement agencies for their unwavering dedication towards safeguarding the nation. He said it is a collective responsibility of the government and the people to honour and uphold the sanctity of these sacrifices. He stressed that achieving Pakistan’s vision for development and security requires a steadfast commitment from all sections of society.

Regarding the economic landscape of the country, the prime minster said the State Bank of Pakistan’s decision to reduce the policy rate by one per cent will enhance economic growth and trade activities.

Voicing concern over the incidents of human trafficking, he said these incidents resulted in the loss of many precious lives offshore and tarnished Pakistan’s image globally.

He said a comprehensive probe into the incidents is underway. He said the government is taking effective and serious steps to curb human trafficking.