Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal said on Sunday that the PML-N government would launch economic long march or Vision 2025 here on August 11 (Monday) to transform Pakistan into an economically strong and prosperous country by providing a high quality of life for all citizens.
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to launch Vision 2025 developed with the consensus of all four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan governments to put Pakistan on way to sustainable economic growth trajectory, creating a globally competitive and prosperous country by providing a high quality of life for all citizens”, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal told a press conference here this afternoon.
He said that PML-N’s previous government in year 1998 initiated Vision 2010 but dictator Pervez Musharraf after one year overthrew the government and the vision was not materialized.
He added that under vision 2010 PML-N government forecast that Pakistan would require 28,000 MW of electricity but the road map for energy need under the vision 2010 was not implemented and discontinued as a result the country is facing worst type of load shedding today.
Ahsan Iqbal however said that only one part of vision 2010 was implement by the then Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr Prof Attaur Rehman and PhD programme was continued which helped infuse new life to the universities in the country.
Prof Iqbal said if Vision 2025 is implemented and continued the country would get rid of the problem of load shedding before the years 2017-18.
He further said that government has initiated Diamer-Bhasha Dam, which is the biggest water reservoir to be completed in 10 to 12 years time.
This project would not only facilitate the one government in power but also help provide electricity and water to governments in future for long term across the country.
“Vision 2025 is a long term project for socio economic prosperity of the country on sustainable basis”, he remarked.
He added that if Diamer-Bhasha Dam was not built, the country would face shortage of water and the building of the dam would secure the power and water requirements of the country for the longer period.
He urged the youth that instead of participating the Imran-Qadri led “Barbadi (destruction) March” should participate in the Vision 2025 march.
He highlighted the long term visions had given by the leaderships of China, Turkey, Malaysia and other countries, which changed the fate of their people and these countries are now witnessing economic growth and prosperity and their citizens are enjoying a quality life.
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also given the nation Vision 2025 aiming at making Pakistan a economically strong and prosperous country in Asia as well as the world”, he remarked.
He added that PML-N led government has put Pakistan on the path of economic growth trajectory and the international organization like “Moody’s” has enhanced credit rating of Pakistan from negative to stable which reflected the prudent economic policies of the government.
Prof. Iqbal said that Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri are conspiring to destabilize the country and democracy for their ulterior motives and people of Pakistan would never allow them to do so.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, he said, wanted to make Pakistan economically strong and a viable country in the region.
The development of the country and human resource development are the Prime minister’s top priorities and the government would continue this policy for the betterment of the people.
Prof. Iqbal said that government under Vision 2025 would enhance exports of the country from current $25 billion to $150 billion to create job opportunities and reduce poverty in the country.
In Vision 2025, education and human capital development have also been given top priorities and enough resources would be allocated for these sectors for the prosperity of the country and its people.
