Parliament House Islamabad,10 March 2025(Kamran Raja): Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem
• Chairman Senate, Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani,
• Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq,
• Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif,
• Members of the Parliament,
• Distinguished Guests,
• Ladies and Gentlemen,
• Assalam-o-Alaikum!
It is my singular privilege as your civilian president to address for the 8th time this August House at the beginning of another Parliamentary Year. This moment marks not only the continuation of our democratic journey but also provides us with an opportunity to review our progress and reaffirm our commitment to building a better future for Pakistan.
As we embark on this new parliamentary year, I urge this House to focus on promoting good governance, and political and economic stability. Our people have pinned their hopes on parliament, and we must rise to meet their expectations. It is my first duty to remind you we need to work harder to strengthen our democratic system, restore public confidence in the rule of law, and put Pakistan on the road to prosperity.
I would like to appreciate the government’s efforts for putting the country on a positive path to economic growth. Our foreign exchange reserves witnessed a surge. There was a substantial increase in Foreign Direct Investment and the stock market also surged to a historic high. The government also reduced the policy rate from 22% to 12%, and all other economic indicators have shown a healthy sign of improvement.
Honourable members.
You are aware that the population dynamics of our country have changed. A combination of factors presents challenges we must address. The high rate of our population growth along with strategic drift in our administrative machinery has increased governance issues manifold. It is my considered opinion that this House should take its responsibilities seriously, and play its role in a real re-set of our governance and service delivery outcomes.
As far as the government is concerned, ministries too need to redefine their vision and objectives, and understand that pressing issues faced by the people of Pakistan have to be resolved within a certain time frame. We need to deliver tangible benefits to restore the trust of the people in democratic institutions.
Democracy needs give and take, and what better place to work on collective goals than this Parliament? As elected representatives, you function as role models for the nation. As you go about your parliamentary business think beyond narrow goals. Think of the unity and consensus our country so desperately needs.
I would urge all of you to empower our people, make decisions of national importance with consensus, encourage domestic and international investments for economic growth and job creation, foster social and economic justice, and ensure fairness and transparency in our system.
Chairman Senate, Mr Speaker,
For any country to prosper, it must build equitably. This is going to be a century of many new global challenges, and to weather such transitions, we need to ensure that all of our peoples, with their different regions and resources, are on board for national development. It is my firm belief that a strong Pakistan is one where the fruits of progress and development are equally shared by all its provinces and citizens.
We should work actively to promote inclusive and uniform development, ensuring that no province, no district, and no village is left behind. This House should ensure that development is not limited to a few selected areas but reaches every nook and corner of the country. The ignored and neglected areas demand urgent attention from the federal government.
They also need investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities to address their sense of deprivation. Parliament is the one forum where any sense of deprivation cannot just be aired constructively but also addressed with political empathy by the executive branch. That is the test of real statecraft.
In this regard, improving our taxation system is essential to moving forward as a country. We must reform and expand our tax net—not by overburdening those who already contribute, but by ensuring that every eligible taxpayer participates in nation-building.
Pakistan should also diversify its exports, focusing on value-added goods and services. To explore new markets and build a competitive export-oriented economy, we need to make our IT Industry the key driver of economic growth. We should focus on building digital and information highways, investing in IT parks, enhancing internet accessibility and speed, and supporting the growth of our technology-driven economy.
Equally important is sustained support for Small and Medium Enterprises. We must ensure easier access to credit, address procedural and bureaucratic hurdles, and create policies that promote youth-led businesses. Our young people should be encouraged to enter the business world through SME-focused programs, skill development initiatives, and accessible loan schemes.
In order to achieve these objectives, I would like to urge this House to play its role in improving the Ease of Doing Business. Investors, small businesses, and international companies must find Pakistan an attractive destination for investment.
Honourable Members,
Today the common man, the labourers, and the salaried class are facing serious economic hardships. Our citizens are burdened by inflation, high prices of essential items, and rising energy costs. As we approach the next budget, I urge this Parliament and the government to provide real relief to the people.
The government should take measures in the forthcoming budget to increase salaries and pensions, reduce income taxes on salaried classes and lower energy costs, which would help reduce the financial burden on them. At the same time, we should avoid downsizing and job cuts. Instead, our focus should be on creating jobs and utilizing trained manpower productively.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Women constitute almost 50 per cent of the country’s population but they are under-represented in every aspect of life. It is essential to empower them by enhancing their representation in various sectors.
The most important intervention we can make as government and parliament, is to make women at the bottom of the social pyramid financially independent in accordance with the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) remains a crucial lifeline for millions of families. Its reach must be expanded, and cash transfers should be further enhanced.
Young people make up a huge proportion of our current demographic. They need hope and inspiration. We should ensure that the children are not outside schools in Pakistan. Promoting higher education and enhancing research in universities should be our fundamental priority for creating a knowledge-based economy.
I urge the federal and provincial governments to increase allocations for the education sector in the upcoming budget on the macro level and to also provide more opportunities through scholarships and financial assistance programs.
This is also the moment for us to reflect on how we can enhance access to quality healthcare for all of our citizens, reduce the worrying incidence of mal-nutrition and polio vaccination in many children. Emphasis should be laid on primary health care.
Respected Parliamentarians,
I believe that domestic and regional connectivity is fundamental to a prosperous Pakistan. We need a strong and efficient transport infrastructure, road networks, and modernised railways. Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan require special attention in terms of connectivity and development, as these regions are Pakistan’s strategic frontiers and are vital to our national economy. This will not only lower poverty but also kick-start the economy with new jobs, skills and markets.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar Port remain central to our vision of connectivity. These projects must be fully realized so that Pakistan can serve as a gateway for international trade, linking Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East.
At this point, I would like to take this opportunity to urge the federal and provincial governments to strengthen the agriculture sector, ensure sustainable water management, and bring coordination and agency to the urgent task of managing the growing threats of climate change.
I say this because agriculture is a key pillar of our economy, and it is imperative that we modernize this sector by adopting new farming techniques, developing better seeds, investing in agricultural research and development, and creating more jobs by making land more productive.
In order to improve farm productivity, increase livestock yield, and expand food exports, our farmers must be equipped with modern tools. We must aim for stability and self-sufficiency in food production. We need to focus on greater water availability and its efficient use. We must work toward innovative solutions such as bringing water from Tajikistan to Balochistan, upgrading irrigation systems, and utilising new technologies to conserve and distribute water.
Our fisheries and livestock sectors have immense potential. Pakistan’s rivers, lakes, and coastal areas hold untapped opportunities for fisheries. Commercial cattle farming can open new avenues for employment and exports. I urge the government to play its role in providing incentives, training, and support to our youth to make these industries a vital part of our economic future. I would also like to urge the Government to seek greater cooperation and exchanges with China in this regard.
You are aware that Pakistan is one of the countries most impacted by climate change. We should focus on restoring biodiversity, adaptive strategies on the food and water security nexus, and the preservation of eco-systems.
We must invest in the promotion of renewable energy and electric vehicles. We must also focus on recharging our wetlands and rivers, so they emerge pollution-free and become once again the lifeline for livelihoods and rich marine eco-systems. The Mangroves of Sindh stand as a shining example of what can be achieved through conservation efforts.
I am glad to share that, in Sindh, we have planted 2 billion mangroves, which have also earned the Sindh government substantial finances through carbon credits. We should replicate this model proactively and benefit from the international carbon credit market.
Members of Parliament.
In view of the current internal and external security challenges, we need to further strengthen our security capabilities and enhance the capacity of our law enforcement agencies to effectively deal with the menace of terrorism. Parliament needs to play a role in rebuilding a consensus to tackle extremist ideologies as well as the militancy that supports such violence.
We are all aware of the external support and funding that terrorists are getting today, causing human and financial losses to the nation. We must unite to ensure that challenges don’t gather more momentum, because already thousands of our security forces have sacrificed their lives in the fight against terrorism, and we cannot allow resurgence again.
I want to assure you that we are committed to eradicating this menace with the support of our nation and brave Armed Forces. Successful intelligence-based operations have led to the dismantling of terrorist networks that seek to destabilize our nation.
The entire nation is proud of its security forces and pays rich tribute to their bravery, dedication, and the countless sacrifices they have made in service to the country. At the same time, we should not forget that militancy finds roots in deprivation and inequity, so we must focus on the development of regions most affected by terrorism and create employment.
Outside our borders, the world is in different stages of transition. Pakistan remains committed to regional peace, stability, and economic integration. Our foreign policy will always be guided by national interests, international cooperation, and the principles of sovereignty and mutual respect. We should enhance our cooperation with friendly regional countries in the areas of trade, economy, and climate and culture exchanges. We will continue to play our role as a responsible and peace-loving nation.
Our time-tested relationship with China remains a cornerstone of our diplomacy, and we will continue to further strengthen economic and strategic ties with Beijing. We will further cement our All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with China and continue to support the One-China Policy. During my recent visit to China, I held fruitful discussions with the Chinese leadership while inviting them to make more investments in CPEC to improve regional and economic integration.
Through our recent engagements with the Chinese leadership, both nations have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening economic cooperation. The benefits of CPEC will reach every corner of Pakistan through different projects.
We deeply appreciate the support of our trusted friends Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye, and others—who have stood by us in times of economic challenges. We are committed to further strengthening our longstanding historical, cultural, and economic ties with the friendly nations of the Gulf and Central Asia as well as the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
The recent successful counterterrorism cooperation between the US and Pakistan is encouraging. The two countries should build on these successes to renew and enhance cooperation for joint goals.
Honourable Members.
The plight of our brothers and sisters in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir remains a grave concern for the entire nation. The people of Kashmir have been suffering for decades under the unjust occupation, oppression, and brutal human rights violations by the successive Indian regimes. Pakistan will always stand by them in their struggle for self-determination.
We reaffirm our unwavering moral, political and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people and call upon the international community to take decisive action against the atrocities being committed by the Indian Occupation Forces. The voice of the oppressed will not be silenced, and Pakistan will continue to raise this issue at every international forum.
The serial devastation in Palestine demands the urgent attention of the world. The Palestinian people continue to endure violence, displacement, ethnic cleansing, and oppression at the hands of Israeli security forces.
Pakistan is actively committed to the Palestinian cause and is consistent in calling for a just and lasting solution based on international law and the aspirations of the Palestinian people. Our position is clear and unwavering: that the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital is essential for lasting peace in the region.
Honourable Members,
Before I conclude, I must draw the attention of this House to a matter of concern for this Federation. As President of Pakistan, I have been elected by all four provincial assemblies, the National Assembly and the Senate of Pakistan. In the constitutional framework, it is my duty to represent the Federation.
In the most challenging of circumstances, when my wife Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was assassinated, I was the one who chanted “Pakistan Khappay”. For me, Pakistan always comes first.
It is therefore my constitutional duty as your President, my personal obligation as a patriotic Pakistani, to caution this House and the government, that some of your unilateral policies are causing grave strain on the federation. In particular, the Government’s unilateral decision to carve out more canals from the Indus River System, despite strong opposition from federating units.
A proposal that I as your President cannot support. I urge this government to abandon this current proposal and work together with all stakeholders to come up with viable, sustainable solutions based on unanimous consensus among the federating units.
In the end, I would like to again invite the attention of this House to fulfil the responsibility entrusted to this Parliament and play its role in nation-building, strengthening institutions and improving governance.
Let us put national interest supreme and set aside personal and political differences. Let us work together to revive our economy, strengthen our democracy, and uphold the rule of law. Let us strive to build a Pakistan that is just, prosperous, and inclusive and make the best use of this parliamentary year. Thank You!
Pakistan Paindabad!