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Thursday April 25, 2024

The PM at the UN

The PM has just returned from his 10-day trip to the UN where he made a good speech. But all this could have been achieved in three days, and certainly his large entourage of over 72 members had no role to perform other than holidaying at the expense of a

By our correspondents
October 08, 2015
The PM has just returned from his 10-day trip to the UN where he made a good speech. But all this could have been achieved in three days, and certainly his large entourage of over 72 members had no role to perform other than holidaying at the expense of a nation which is under heavy foreign debt and fighting the war against terrorism.
What was the specific role of each member of this large delegation funded by taxpayers? The success or failure of frequent foreign trips made by those holding public offices can be gauged by our diplomatic isolation and almost negligible direct foreign investment, excluding the CPEC. This country can ill-afford elected political leaders whose lifestyle replicates that of royalty. Why has every foreign visit of Nawaz Sharif included a prolonged stopover in London? His predecessor was fond of making weekly trips to Dubai in addition to numerous visits to London, France or the US. At the end of this month, the PM is proceeding on a ‘rare’ official visit to the US and intends to travel by B777 which is capable of making a non-stop flight from Islamabad to Washington. One hopes the PM will not carry freeloaders this time.
Aneela Chandio
Sukkur