Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday emphasized that Pakistan cannot achieve sustainable economic growth without eliminating terrorism, extremism, and sectarianism from the country.

Speaking at the National Ulema Convention, he urged religious scholars to actively discourage sectarianism and promote unity, harmony, and goodwill among all schools of thought. He stressed that fostering national cohesion is vital for the country’s prosperity and long-term progress.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, ministers, parliamentarians, and a large number of religious scholars, attended the convention from various sects.

The Prime Minister highlighted that Allah Almighty had blessed Pakistan with a significant victory in the maarka-e-haq (battle of truth) against India. He credited this success to the professionalism, courage, and leadership of the armed forces, particularly Field Marshal Asim Munir, and the prayers of the nation. He noted that all branches of the military - the Army, Air Force, and Navy - played a key role in achieving this triumph.

He added that the world was recognizing Pakistan’s performance, and Muslim countries were expressing pride in the historic victory. However, he warned that certain elements continued to spread propaganda against the armed forces.

Addressing the threat of terrorism, PM Shehbaz Sharif said the Khawarij were carrying out attacks on innocent citizens and security personnel. He noted that families of martyred soldiers often expressed pride in their children’s sacrifices for the nation.

On the economic front, the Prime Minister stated that Pakistan was on the verge of accelerated growth. He praised the combined efforts of the country’s political and military leadership in steering Pakistan away from the brink of default.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to economic prosperity, emphasizing the importance of austerity, collective effort, and hard work to fulfill the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

PM Shehbaz Sharif concluded by underscoring that national unity is essential to tackle the country’s challenges and achieve lasting stability and development.