Pakistan is facing a severe financial crisis and has become almost dependent on financial aid from global lenders such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF). While the Pakistan government managed to seal the IMD deal after several delays, the country’s army chief Syed Asim Munir on Monday called for an end to dependence on foreign loans. Munir emphasized that Pakist.s need to make the country self-reliant. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of Khanewal Model Agricultural Farm on Monday, Pakistan’s army chief said, “Pakist.s are a proud, spirited and talented nation. All Pakist.s should throw out the beggar’s bowl.”
Munir also said that Allah is Almighty and no power in the world can stop the progress of Pakistan. He said that the country is just like a mother and relations between people should be of love and respect. He said that security and economy are related to each other and are necessary for each other. General Munir promised that the army would not rest until Pakistan came out of the present crisis.
This is not the first time that the Pakistan Army has indicated its role in the country’s economy. Last week, the Pakistan Army vowed to extend all possible support to the government for the country’s “economic revival”. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir chaired the 258th Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) held at GHQ on July 17, where the forum discussed the government’s economic revival plan and the role of the military in uplifting agriculture, IT, mining and minerals and defense production sectors under the purview of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
The economic revival plan was unveiled during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), chief ministers, federal and provincial ministers and high-level government officials. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently said that Pakistan has received an additional $600 million loan from China to boost the country’s foreign exchange reserves based on the IMF deal. According to the report, the Pakist. government’s debt increased to $2.44 billion in July, including China’s $2.07 billion unguaranteed debt.
