ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared that no one would be permitted to harm the nation’s economy through the politics of protests. During a ceremony for the groundbreaking of the Kashmir Chowk Underpass in Islamabad, he asserted that the law would act to protect lives and property.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister highlighted the macroeconomic stability achieved over the past two and a half years, noting increased exports and remittances. He urged the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to call off its long march, suggesting that the government is willing to engage in discussions to move the country forward, reflecting the will of the nation.

Sharif stated that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had agreed to engage in meaningful negotiations with the PTI to encourage the abandonment of long marches in favor of dialogue. However, he expressed regret that despite the government’s commitment, the discussions did not yield productive results, as the opposing side seemed unwilling to make the negotiations successful.

The Prime Minister commended Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for setting a one-month timeline for completing the Kashmir Chowk Underpass. He stressed that infrastructure developments like bridges and underpasses support societal segments in reaching destinations efficiently, contributing to socio-economic progress.

Interior Minister Naqvi remarked that the Kashmir Chowk Underpass is part of initiatives to enhance Islamabad’s appeal ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit next year. He noted plans to make Islamabad plastic-free, cashless, and to digitize land records by the year’s end, along with projects to increase greenery in the capital.