Islamabad, 10 December 2025(Kamran Raja): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated that Pakistan cannot achieve sustainable economic development without completely eliminating terrorism, extremism, and sectarianism from the country. He emphasized that national unity and harmony are essential to securing long-term peace, prosperity, and stability.
Addressing the National Ulema Convention in Islamabad, the Prime Minister urged religious scholars to play an active and constructive role in discouraging sectarian tendencies and promoting unity, brotherhood, and cohesion among all schools of thought. He noted that creating an environment of national solidarity was crucial for the country’s advancement.
The Convention was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal and Chief of Defence Forces Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers, parliamentarians, and a large number of religious scholars representing diverse sects.
Reflecting on national security, the Prime Minister said that Allah Almighty had blessed Pakistan with a historic victory in the maarka-e-haq (battle of truth) against India. He attributed this success to the professionalism, bravery, and unshakeable resolve of the armed forces, combined with the prayers and support of the entire nation. He praised Field Marshal Asim Munir for leading the war with courage, acknowledging equal contributions from the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, and Pakistan Navy.
He noted that the world was recognizing Pakistan’s performance, and many Muslim countries had expressed pride in the country’s achievement. However, he lamented that certain elements continued to spread propaganda against the armed forces despite their sacrifices.
Calling terrorism a persistent menace, he said the Khawarij were targeting innocent citizens and security personnel. He mentioned his interactions with families of martyred soldiers, who expressed immense pride in the sacrifices of their loved ones for the nation.
On the economic front, the Prime Minister said Pakistan had reached a decisive stage and was poised for accelerated growth. He highlighted that the country’s political and military leadership had worked tirelessly to steer Pakistan away from the threat of default and stabilize the economic trajectory.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to economic revival, he said this was a time for implementation, hard work, and collective effort. Through austerity measures and unity, he added, the nation could realize the dreams of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concluded that national unity was indispensable for tackling the challenges facing Pakistan and for ensuring lasting stability and development.