First end ‘long march’ then talk, PM tells PTI

Islamabad, Pakistan - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday, urging them to cease their prolonged protests and sit-ins before engaging in dialogue. The prime minister cautioned that continued agitation could jeopardize the nation's economic recovery and damage its international reputation.

"End your long marches and sit-ins," Sharif declared, emphasizing that the government would not negotiate under pressure from street demonstrations. At a groundbreaking ceremony for the Kashmir Chowk Underpass, Sharif accused the PTI of reverting to its "politics of sit-ins and long marches" despite the government's ongoing efforts to engage the opposition.

He claimed a joint committee of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had already attempted negotiations with the opposition, but those talks fell apart when the PTI demanded last-minute modifications to an agreed draft.

Sharif warned that the repercussions of renewed protests would ultimately fall on the economy, stating, "Whose loss is it? It is the loss of this nation. Your economy will be the primary target." He highlighted the government's success in restoring macroeconomic stability and fostering growth, citing improved exports, remittances, and industrial output.

He cautioned that undermining these gains would be seen as hostility towards the state. "We will not allow this to happen. The law will take its course," Sharif declared, reiterating the government's commitment to protecting citizens' lives and property.

The Kashmir Chowk Underpass, a Rs1.4 billion project, aims to alleviate traffic congestion between Islamabad and Rawalpindi. With an original PC-1 estimate of Rs1.6 billion, the contract was awarded for Rs1.4 billion. The underpass, featuring four slip roads, is designed to handle around 107,000 vehicles daily, particularly during VIP movements.

Sharif praised Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his team for setting a one-month completion target. Turning the event towards Kashmir, Sharif expressed hope that the intersection, named Kashmir Chowk, would eventually extend to Srinagar once the people of Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir achieve their "inalienable right to freedom."

Interior Minister Naqvi announced various initiatives, including the conversion of Islamabad to a plastic-free and cashless city by year-end, the upgrading of F-9 Park to resemble London's Hyde Park, and the development of Asia's largest safari park, alongside another of similar size. Naqvi also mentioned the complete digitalization of Islamabad's land records would be finalized by the end of the year.

Directly addressing the PTI, Naqvi challenged citizens to evaluate their elected representatives based on their work for public welfare or participation in "negative politics."