Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday attributed the ongoing sacrifices of the country’s armed forces to past “blatant mistakes and wrong decisions,” which, he said, had led to the release of thousands of terrorists.

Addressing a meeting of the federal cabinet, the prime minister condemned the recent attack in Kalat, where 18 soldiers were martyred. He also visited the injured, praising their resilience and courage.

“Our martyrs and ghazis are sacrificing their lives to protect Pakistan,” the premier said, adding that the country must not repeat the mistakes of the past that had enabled terrorism to resurface.

He also offered Fateha for the martyred soldiers and a government official who was killed in an attack while on polio duty in Peshawar.

Economic measures and Saudi assistance

Speaking on the economic situation, Mr Sharif stated that inflation had dropped to a nine-year low in January, attributing the improvement to coordinated efforts by all stakeholders.

“Now, our focus is to drive economic growth,” he remarked.

The prime minister also highlighted recent diplomatic gains, revealing that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had sent a delegation to Pakistan. As a result, he said, the oil facility that had been suspended in December 2023 had been restored. Under the agreement, Saudi Arabia would provide a deferred payment facility worth $1.2 billion on oil imports, helping bolster Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves.

Additionally, he announced Saudi Arabia’s approval of a $40 million water scheme for Hazara and the construction of King Salman Hospital in Pakistan.

Agricultural tax and Ramadan relief

In a significant policy move, Mr Sharif expressed gratitude to the chief ministers of all provinces for approving the imposition of agricultural tax, noting that Balochistan and Sindh had already ratified it.

He acknowledged that the measure was a key requirement of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) but insisted that it was necessary for economic stability.

With the holy month of Ramadan approaching, the premier said the government would introduce relief packages without involving utility stores, citing complaints from the previous year.

Kashmir Solidarity Day

Touching upon the Kashmir issue, the prime minister reminded the nation of the upcoming Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5.

“The entire nation will mark the day with national spirit, from Karachi to Peshawar, to express solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir in their freedom struggle,” he said.