Throw out beggar’s bowl: Pak army chief urges as the nation plunges in loans
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Islamabad: Pakistan Army Chief Syed Asim Munir urged the nation to discard the beggar’s bowl referring to the foreign loans that currently props up its economy.
Only a fortnight ago, Pakistan secured a life-saving loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Addressing a gathering at the opening ceremony of Khanewal Model Agriculture Farm, Munir told the gathering to choose self-reliance over dependency, ANI reported.
‘Pakistanis are a proud, zealous and talented nation. All Pakistanis must throw out the beggar's bowl,’ he said.
On the back of IMF loan, Pakistan will get an additional loan of USD 600 million from China to fortify its foreign exchange reserves.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently announced details of the new loan from China and on Monday he blamed economic crisis on former PM Imran Khan.
Pakistan’s debt has risen to USD 2.44 billion making the nation highly vulnerable to further crisis.
Alongside, it owes to China USD 2.07 billion ‘non-guaranteed debt’, ANI reported citing Geo News.
General Munir’s criticism comes in the midst of the nation helplessly seeking more loans.
Motivating the people, Munir said no power can stop Pakistan’s progress as the nation has Allah’s blessings.
General Munir told the gathering that a state is like a mother and people should love and respect it, adding that security and the economy are ‘interlinked’.
He promised that military would not rest until the country is steered out of the economic crisis.
