Politics need dialogue not protests: PM

Says people have rejected negative politics; inaugurates PIA’s Premier service

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said the country’s politics need dialogue, not protests and maintained that people are disinterested in negative and subversive politics.

The prime minister said the people have rejected the negative politics of sit-ins that could deprive them of fruits of development and progress being made currently on fast track basis in the country. He said constructive politics would help in an improvement of economy and it would subsequently discard the politics of negativity.

The prime minister was talking to media persons at the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed International Airport, Islamabad, after inaugurating PIA’s “Premier” service on Sunday afternoon. The prime minister was accompanied by federal ministers Senator Ishaq Dar, Senator Pervaiz Rashid and renowned aviation expert Shujaat Azeem.

He had extensive round of the plane Airbus A 330-300 that later left for London with 291 passengers on board, including a crew of 20. The business class had 22 passengers while the economy class was carrying 249 passengers. Nawaz Sharif was in a pleasant mood and he even checked the toilet and berths being provided to the passengers in the luxury air service of the national flag carrier.

To a question about political developments, the prime minister said that it has become crystal clear that people are not only supportive of positive political activities aimed at prosperity and development of the country but they have no liking for subversive politics. He said the people have distanced themselves from the agitation mongers who have failed in attracting attention of the masses. He added that people were aware that negativism could take the country in reverse order. He said people had come up with a greater realisation and do not support such elements.

The prime minister said Pakistan is in a dire need of continuity of politics of negotiations and harmony rather than agitation and slogan mongering. “The positive attitude in politics can contribute to eliminate poverty and illiteracy from the country,” he said.

The prime minister said his government believes in taking steps to make the country economically strong and in facilitating the common man. Referring to the launching of the ‘Premier’ service, the prime minister said the national flag carrier is coming out of its problems after facing a long financial crunch. “It’s not an ordinary development,” he said, adding that the Premier service would provide a better facility for shorter air distance with comparatively lesser air fare. He said it would also help in giving a boost to economy. He expressed the confidence that the PIA Premier would maintain the quality of its service and would help earn the airline bigger profits since it would be providing service direct to London from Pakistan and likewise to other destinations. “The passengers will not have to make any stopover while flying to the United Kingdom,” he said.

The prime minister saw off the inaugural PK-785 to London at the BBS International Airport. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) PIA Bern Hildenbrand, Chairman PIA Azam Saigol, Chairman and CEO Sri Lankan Airlines Ajith Dias and Surendra Ratwatte were also present on the occasion.

The CEO briefed the prime minister about the salient features of the new service and its impact on the business of the airlines. He told the guests that the PIA has acquired on wet-lease three A-330 aircraft from the Sri Lankan Airlines. The planes are in brand new condition capable of giving better service to passengers, enabling PIA to start regaining its market share. There will be six weekly Premier flights to London, including three from Islamabad and three from Lahore. Later, with the addition of more aircraft, the service would be expanded to other destinations. The aircraft is equipped with LCD screens and flight entertainment with 250 channels and flatbed service for passengers. Complimentary limousine service for PIA Premier Business Class customers will be given upon their arrival at London’s Heathrow airport. The service would be available within a radius of 25 kilometres of the airport. A small group of journalists was also part of the passengers in the inaugural flight as guests of the airlines.

APP adds: Lauding the contribution of Pakistani Americans in the country’s economic uplift, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the government was determined to achieve the goal of development and prosperity and asked the expatriates to continue promoting a soft image of the country.

In his message on the occasion of Pakistan Festival USA being organised to mark the country’s 70th Independence Day, the prime minister said such events provide the opportunity to show to the younger generation the ideals Pakistan stands besides a rich legacy, worthy traditions and promises its future holds for the nation.

“I am very pleased to extend my heartfelt greetings to the organisers of Pakistan Festival USA,” the prime minister said, and added that it was certainly an honour and proud achievement to successfully hold this event every year. Being held for 30 consecutive years, the Pakistan Festival USA has become a forum for Americans of Pakistani origin to celebrate the day together.

States governors, lawmakers and other US government officials have regularly attended the annual daylong event which draws tens of thousands of people mainly from the states of Virginia, Maryland and the capital Washington, DC.

The prime minister said that as the nation celebrates its Independence Day, all Pakistanis should feel proud of the achievements made in the past three years.

“Our economy is back on track, terrorist activities have been contained to a large extent and days are not far off when we will purge our country from the menace of extremism,” he said.

He said as an acknowledgement of the country’s economic progress, the US-based Global Index Provider MSCI in June announced to upgrade Pakistan to emerging markets status from frontier markets.

“This re-classification will help attract much-needed foreign investment into Pakistan,” he added.

The prime minister said the government achieved this tremendous economic progress despite many hurdles. “This was not possible without the help and support of the patriotic Pakistanis both in the country as well as abroad,” he said adding that the government was determined to achieve the goal of development and prosperity for the nation in spite of attempts to create political instability.