PM Seeks Unity, President Slams Government’s Canal Plan

He denounced the government’s unilateral decision to carve out more canals from the Indus River System despite strong opposition from federating units.

“A proposal that I as your President cannot support,” said Zardari and urged the “government to abandon this current proposal and work together with all stakeholders to come up with viable, sustainable solutions based on unanimous consensus among the federating units”.

President Zardari delivered the speech amid strong protest by the opposition lawmakers who kept raising slogans against the incumbent government during the entire session.

He urged stakeholders to prioritise national interests and set aside personal and political differences for the sake of the country.

Let us work together to revive our economy, strengthen our democracy, and uphold the rule of law,” he said.

In his initial remarks, he expressed gratitude to address the parliament for the 8th time.

“This moment marks not only the continuation of our democratic journey but also provides us with an opportunity to review our progress and reaffirm our commitment to building a better future for Pakistan.”

He urged the house to focus on promoting good governance, and political and economic stability to meet expectations of the nationals who pinned their hopes on parliament.

He appreciated the government’s efforts for putting the country on a positive path to economic growth as foreign exchange reserves witnessed a surge.

“There was a substantial increase in Foreign Direct Investment and the stock market also surged to a historic high. The government also reduced the policy rate from 22% to 12%, and all other economic indicators have shown a healthy sign of improvement.”

Emphasising the importance of democracy, Zardari said: “Democracy needs give and take, and what better place to work on collective goals than this parliament? As elected representatives, you function as role models for the nation.”

“As you go about your parliamentary business think beyond narrow goals. Think of the unity and consensus our country so desperately needs.”

The president urged the government to encourage domestic and international investments for economic growth and job creation, foster social and economic justice, and ensure fairness and transparency in our system.

Zardari stressed for promoting inclusive and uniform development, ensuring that no province, no district, and no village is left behind.

“This House should ensure that development is not limited to a few selected areas but reaches every nook and corner of the country. The ignored and neglected areas demand urgent attention from the federal government. ”

He maintained that the government should focus on investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities to address their sense of deprivation.

The president also emphasised to improve taxation system “essential to moving forward as a country”. “We must reform and expand our tax net—not by overburdening those who already contribute, but by ensuring that every eligible taxpayer participates in nation-building.”

“Pakistan should also diversify its exports, focusing on value-added goods and services,” he added.

Zardari said that the country needs to make our IT industry the key driver of economic growth to explore new markets and build a competitive export-oriented economy.

He also asked the government to ensure sustained support for the Small and Medium Enterprises besides encouraging young people to enter the business world through SME-focused programmes, skill development initiatives, and accessible loan schemes.

President Zardari admitted that labourers and salaried class were facing serious economic hardships due to inflation, high prices of essential items, and rising energy costs.

He urged the parliament and the government to provide “real relief” to the people in the upcoming budget.

“The government should take measures in the forthcoming budget to increase salaries and pensions, reduce income taxes on salaried classes and lower energy costs, which would help reduce the financial burden on them.”

The president also asked the government to avoid downsizing and job cuts. “Instead, our focus should be on creating jobs and utilising trained manpower productively.”

For women empowerment, Zardari said that women constitute almost 50% of the country’s population but they are under-represented in every aspect of life. He urged the government to empower them by enhancing their representation in various sectors.

“Domestic and regional connectivity is fundamental to a prosperous Pakistan,” said Zardari and stressed the need for a strong and efficient transport infrastructure, road networks, and modernised railways.

He highlighted that Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan require special attention in terms of connectivity and development, as these regions are Pakistan’s strategic frontiers and are vital to our national economy.

“The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar Port remain central to our vision of connectivity.”

The president said that the “projects must be fully realised so that Pakistan can serve as a gateway for international trade, linking Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East.”

President Zardari asked the government to focus on restoring biodiversity, adopting adaptive strategies for the food and water security nexus, and preserving eco-systems as Pakistan is one of the countries most impacted by climate change.

He suggested investments in the promotion of renewable energy and electric vehicles.

“We must also focus on recharging our wetlands and rivers, so they emerge pollution-free and become once again the lifeline for livelihoods and rich marine eco-systems.”

In view of the current internal and external security challenges, the president emphasised strengthening security capacities and enhancing the capacity of law enforcement agencies to effectively deal with the menace of terrorism.

“Parliament needs to play a role in rebuilding a consensus to tackle extremist ideologies as well as the militancy that supports such violence.”

Zardari assured that the government was committed to eradicating this menace with the support of our nation and brave armed forces.

He reiterated that Pakistan remained committed to regional peace, stability, and economic integration. “Our foreign policy will always be guided by national interests, international cooperation, and the principles of sovereignty and mutual respect.”

The president asked to enhance cooperation with friendly regional countries in the areas of trade, economy, and climate and culture exchanges besides continuing to play role as a responsible and peace-loving nation.

The president asked to enhance cooperation with friendly regional countries in the areas of trade, economy, and climate and culture exchanges besides continuing to play role as a responsible and peace-loving nation.

Zardari said: “Our time-tested relationship with China remains a cornerstone of our diplomacy, and we will continue to further strengthen economic and strategic ties with Beijing.”

“We will further cement our All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with China and continue to support the One-China Policy. During my recent visit to China, I held fruitful discussions with the Chinese leadership while inviting them to make more investments in CPEC to improve regional and economic integration.

He also appreciated the support of trusted friends — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye, and others — who have stood by us in times of economic challenges.

“We are committed to further strengthening our longstanding historical, cultural, and economic ties with the friendly nations of the Gulf and Central Asia as well as the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.”

He termed the recent successful counterterrorism cooperation between the US and Pakistan “encouraging”. “The two countries should build on these successes to renew and enhance cooperation for joint goals.”

He urged stakeholders to put national interests supreme and set aside personal and political differences. “Let us strive to build a Pakistan that is just, prosperous, and inclusive and make the best use of this parliamentary year.”