Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, has said that Pakistan has once again been set on the path of stability and progress, emphasizing the need for peace, policy continuity, and collective national effort to transform the country into a model of development and prosperity.
Speaking at the inauguration of a steel warehouse in Misri Shah on Saturday, the minister described the area as “the beating heart of Lahore,” noting its importance to the city’s infrastructure and the national economy. He said that Allah Almighty had blessed Pakistan with resilience and a renewed opportunity to rise stronger.
Highlighting recent economic gains, Ahsan Iqbal said that inflation had declined sharply from 38 percent to 4 percent, while the interest rate had dropped from 23 percent to 11 percent over the past two years. He credited these improvements to the government’s difficult but responsible economic decisions under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
He recalled that when the coalition government assumed office in 2022, international observers had warned of an imminent default, but the administration’s corrective measures stabilized the economy and restored confidence.
The minister said that major national achievements — including the elimination of load-shedding, counter-terrorism operations, and the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) — were all hallmarks of Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) governance. He noted that when the PML-N took charge in 2013, Pakistan faced severe energy shortages and extremism, yet through CPEC, it attracted investments worth 25 billion dollars.
Referring to the country’s security record, Ahsan Iqbal praised Pakistan’s armed forces as brave and professional, emphasizing that close coordination between civilian and military institutions had safeguarded national stability during challenging times.
He also recalled that in 1998, then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif conducted six nuclear tests in response to India’s five, demonstrating leadership guided by courage and national interest.
Criticizing previous rulers for economic mismanagement, he alleged that the former government weakened national institutions and derailed progress.
Ahsan Iqbal urged citizens to contribute to national development by ending tax evasion and supporting the economy, saying that just as the military defends the borders, every citizen must defend the nation’s prosperity. He warned that India was attempting to destabilize Pakistan through its agents and said that those involved in such activities cannot be regarded as friends of the country.
The minister further stated that Pakistan had “won the battle for truth and survival” and must now focus on winning the battle for economic growth. He added that no individual or group holds a monopoly over the honour of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), recalling that the first law on Namoos-e-Risalat was passed in the National Assembly under PML-N leadership.
He concluded by calling for unity under the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to make Pakistan a strong, respected, and prosperous nation.
