Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif praises Bangladesh's booming economy

Acknowledging the strides made by Bangladesh with respect to economy, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that his countrymen today “feel ashamed of looking at East Pakistan” (Bangladesh) which was once “considered a burden on our shoulders.”

Addressing the business leaders at Sindh CM House in Pakistan’s commercial capital on Wednesday, Sharif, who took over the country’s reins for the second time, said, “I was quite young when… we were told that it’s a burden on our shoulders…Today you all know where that ‘burden’ has reached (in terms of economic growth),” reports First Post quoting agencies.

“And we feel ashamed when we look towards them,” he added.

As he discussed with the business community ways to uplift the economy of Pakistan, business leaders also had some suggestions for him.

According to a Dawn newspaper report, while the business leaders appreciated Sharif’s determination to tackle economic issues, they raised concern about the political instability in the Pakistan in the wake of former prime minister Imran Khan’s arrest.

Karachi’s business community advised the prime minister to focus on bringing about political stability to “turn around” the economy, added the report.

According to the report, they also asked Sharif to initiate trade talks with India.

The relations between the two countries nosedived after India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated into two Union territories.

The Narendra Modi government’s move evoked strong reactions from Islamabad, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy. It also cut off direct trade ties with India.

“You have made a few handshakes after taking charge that have produced good results and progress on the IMF deal is one of them,” the report quoted Arif Habib, the chief of Arif Habib Group, as saying.

“I suggest you do a few more handshakes. One of them is regarding trade with India, which would greatly benefit our economy. Secondly, you should also (patch up) with a resident of Adiala Jail (a reference to jailed PTI leader Imran Khan). Try to fix things at that level as well and I believe that you can do it,” he added.