Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Asim Munir on Friday slammed naysayers criticizing Pakistan’s economic policies, saying recent improvements to macroeconomic indicators had defeated them through collective efforts of all stakeholders.
In an interaction with the business community of Karachi, the Army chief appreciated their contributions toward achieving economic growth. Commencing the efforts of the federal and provincial governments towards supporting all initiatives taken for economic reforms, he maintained that naysayers who made failed efforts toward creating despair and despondency in the society had been defeated through the collective efforts of all stakeholders.
During the interaction, participants expressed confidence and praised the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) for its role toward achieving the positive economic indicators, noting this was creating an enabling environment for further economic growth. The Army chief, per a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), appreciated the praiseworthy role performed by brotherly and friendly countries, especially China, Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. in the economic recovery of Pakistan by helping the country in multiple domains.
Gen. Munir also highlighted that Pakistan has remarkable potential in various domains and all countrymen must have unflinching trust and confidence in the country’s bright future. Given the immense resources and potential, Pakistan is destined to achieve its rightful position in the comity of nations, God Willing, he added.
During his visit, the Army chief also inaugurated the Innovista Indus IT Park, a hub aimed at empowering Pakistan’s youth by fostering academia-industry collaboration in the field of Information Technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and various members of the civil society attended the inauguration ceremony. Shah emphasized the importance of I.T. for optimal exploitation of potential of youth and economic growth. Gen. Munir, meanwhile, highlighted that such projects were aimed at providing the most conducive environment for further promoting the growth of the I.T. Industry in the country, which is already accelerating at a respectable pace.
Earlier, upon his arrival to Karachi, the Army chief visited the Karachi Corps and received a briefing on operational preparedness and key training initiatives undertaken by the Army.