Sharif affirms resolve on new bright future for Pakistan

The Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said Friday that the aspirations and dynamism of the people of Pakistan have strengthened his resolve to steer country towards a new and bright future. He made the statement in his address to the first Executive Session of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka. President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse chaired the opening ceremony of the Meeting where heads of states and representatives of around 53 states were attending the Summit. Pakistani PM who is representing Pakistan in the Summit along with his delegation said that equitable development was indeed one of the most significant contemporary challenges confronting the world at large and the Commonwealth in particular, said an official press release. According to a press release issued by Pakistan High Commission in Sri Lanka, PM Nawaz said that Pakistan was faced with challenges of weak economy, poverty, acute energy shortages, successive natural calamities and rising militancy. His government was committed to a long-term strategy of sustained and inclusive growth by providing equal opportunities to all Pakistanis, he added. Earlier, the Pakistani PM during his meeting with President of Sri Lanka has offered that Pakistan government or the private sector could set up sugar mills in Sri Lanka. The Prime Minister's offer was in response to the one made by Sri Lankan President to invest in the sugar sector of his country. Both the leaders agreed to further strengthen economic ties, especially by increasing bilateral trade volume from present USD 460 million to USD 1 billion in the next few years, said the press release.