On Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed a delegation of Pakistani students enrolled in top international universities under the government’s Uraan Pakistan Summer Scholars Programme. He said he was deeply impressed by the group, calling them a “galaxy of young superstars” representing the best talent from across the country.
The prime minister highlighted that the programme brought together students from all corners of Pakistan and described it as a remarkable initiative. He stressed that the government would benefit from the students’ honest analyses and feedback, which he said could serve as a valuable resource for improving the governance system.
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Reflecting on the circumstances under which the coalition government assumed power in 2023, the prime minister recalled that Pakistan was teetering on the brink of default. “The majority believed we would default,” he said, “but a small minority, including myself, believed we could pull through.” He credited successful negotiations with the IMF for averting a financial collapse.
Sharif noted that key economic indicators were dire when his government took office. Inflation had soared to 38 percent, the central bank’s policy rate stood at 22.5 percent, and business sentiment had hit rock bottom. “The burden was immense,” he said, “but we moved forward with sincerity and unity.”
He emphasized that these collective efforts have yielded positive results. The policy rate has now dropped to below 11 percent, and economic stability has begun to return. He also noted that reforms are progressing at the Federal Board of Revenue and initiatives like Uraan Pakistan are symbolic of forward momentum.
Acknowledging the tough road ahead, the prime minister said Pakistan cannot afford to delay structural reforms any further. “Successive governments avoided these long-overdue reforms, but we must now commit to change through sustained effort,” he urged.
Sharif said his government believes in teamwork, public service, and performance-based governance. “Those who serve the public through performance are our pride; those who do not deliver will not be recognized,” he declared. He added that performance-based accountability is the foundation of the country’s new direction.
Speaking about investments in youth, he said, “Our youth are our future, and what we spend on them is not an expense — it is an investment.” He proudly recalled distributing 400,000 laptops purely on merit and awarding Rs. 20 billion in scholarships, also based entirely on merit, to deserving students from underprivileged backgrounds, many of whom are now successful professionals globally.
Concluding his remarks with a deeply personal reflection, the prime minister said, “When I stand before my Creator, and He asks me what I did — my answer will be: merit, merit, and merit.” He reaffirmed his belief that investing in young minds is the key to Pakistan’s success and that every effort made for their development is a service to the nation’s future.
