FAISALABAD/CHINIOT, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 14th Aug, 2026) Federal Minister for board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh has called for a national consensus that rises above political differences and personal interests, declaring that only a strong economy, transparent governance, institutional reform and genuine public service can lay foundation for a stable and prosperous Pakistan.
Addressing a large public gathering in Chiniot on the occasion of Pakistan’s 80th Independence Day, he said that all political forces should sit together and agree on a “Charter of Pakistan” encompassing national priorities. Such consensus would provide Pakistan a clear and consistent direction and help future generations to get economically self-reliant and politically stable country.
He said that August 14 was not merely a day to celebrate freedom but also an occasion to reflect seriously on the objectives of creation of Pakistan, national responsibilities and future of the country.
He said that Pakistan emerged as an independent state on August 14, 1947 and it possessed enormous strengths including natural resources, agricultural potential, a large human resource base, strategic geographical importance and talented young people. However, these strengths could only be transformed into sustainable national development through political stability, policy continuity and agreement on long-term economic priorities, he added.
He said that political confrontation, policy discontinuity and absence of consensus on national priorities over the past several decades had affected the pace of development.
He called upon political parties to maintain their differences where necessary but adopt a common approach on fundamental matters such as national interest, security, economic stability, institutional strengthening and public welfare.
If national leadership agreed on a clear and consistent direction, Pakistan could overcome its economic challenges and accelerate development, he added.
He described a strong economy as fundamental requirement for Pakistan’s future and said that lasting solutions to poverty, unemployment, inflation and the difficulties faced by ordinary people lay in an economic system capable of accelerating industrial production, attracting fresh investment, increasing exports, promoting business activity and creating employment opportunities for young people.
He said that the government was taking practical measures to facilitate investors, improve business environment and attract domestic and foreign investment.
Drawing upon his own decades-long association with business sector, he said that he had a direct understanding of the problems faced by businessmen, industrialists and ordinary citizens.
He stressed that one of the most basic principles of business was to listen to every person who approached an institution, treat them with respect and provide an answer to their question or problem.
The same attitude needed to be promoted within the government system, he added.
He directed government officials to deal with citizens courteously, attend their calls, address their complaints on priority basis and ensure that people were not forced to repeatedly visit government offices for minor issues.
“Public service means making life easier for citizens”, he said, adding that forcing a person to spend days or weeks visiting offices for resolution of a minor problem not only wasted time and resources but also weakened public confidence in government institutions.
He said that the officials should regard their responsibilities as a trust rather than merely as authority and ensure transparency, integrity and accountability at every level.
Referring to the performance of Punjab government, the federal minister said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was working day and night for public welfare.
The government machinery would also have to demonstrate full responsibility to effectively implement public welfare initiatives, he added.
He stressed that government officials should make decisions strictly according to law and merit, and discourage any misinformation or misleading impression regarding government initiatives.
On national defense and security, the federal minister paid tribute to Pak armed forces for defending the country in difficult circumstances and said that sacrifices of the martyrs who laid down their lives for Pakistan were a matter of pride for the entire nation.
He said that national security was not limited to protection of borders, as economic sovereignty was also an essential component of national security. A strong economy enabled a country to respond more effectively to internal and external challenges, he added.
He welcomed growing defense cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, saying that enhanced cooperation among brotherly Muslim countries could contribute to peace, stability and promotion of shared interests in the region.
He stressed that defense cooperation should be complemented by stronger economic, trade and investment ties so that regional countries could benefit from each other’s economic potential.
He said that Pakistan needed exceptional progress on the economic front alongside its achievements in defense. Temporary relief measures alone could not permanently resolve public problems, he added.
He said that sustainable solutions to poverty and unemployment required plans aimed at increasing industrial production, establishing new industries, facilitating existing businesses and equipping young people with skills and employment opportunities.
He said that increase in investment would stimulate business activity, create jobs and also expand government revenues.
Discussing taxation, he said that he had been engaged in business for decades and he had always paid taxes transparently.
He said that the business community was ready to contribute more towards national development but needed confidence that its taxes would not be wasted rather it would be spent transparently on public welfare, basic services, education, healthcare, infrastructure and national development projects.
He also stressed the need for reforms in national institutions and said that economic targets could not be achieved without improving performance of government and other public institutions.
Preventing wastage of national resources, reducing unnecessary expenditure, making administrative structures more effective and ensuring merit and accountability were essential requirements, he added.
He emphasized that fundamental objective of every institution should be to facilitate citizens as institutional weaknesses had a direct impact on people’s daily life.
He said that administrative reforms in Punjab should also be considered in accordance with constitutional and legal procedures.
In the modern era, the citizens should be provided fast, simple and transparent government services instead of forcing them to go through unnecessary procedural stages, he added.
He said that digital services, improved monitoring, official accountability and prompt resolution of public complaints could make the government system significantly more effective.
Regarding development of Chiniot, the federal minister said that improved connectivity, roads, communications, industrial infrastructure and business facilities could transform this district into an important investment hub.
He said that Chiniot possessed considerable potential for industrial and commercial growth because of its geographical position, business capacity and available workforce.
He said that better infrastructure and investor facilitation could open new avenues of employment at local level and further strengthen economy of the district.
He said that the federal government was playing its role in creating new investment opportunities in Chiniot and other parts of the country.
He emphasized that economic development should not remain confined to major cities, stressing that small & medium-sized cities also deserved an appropriate share in industrial, commercial and infrastructure development projects. Such approach would help reduce regional disparities and stimulate economic activity at the local level, he added.
Qaiser Sheikh said that message of Independence Day was inseparably linked with unity, sacrifice, responsibility and national resolve. The present generation had a responsibility not merely to regard independence as a historic achievement but to actively contribute to strengthening Pakistan economically, administratively and socially, he added.
He said that Pakistan could move rapidly towards development if citizens, business leaders, political leadership, government officials and youth demonstrated responsibility within their respective spheres.
He said that the government under dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif would accelerate efforts for economic stability, promotion of investment, creation of employment opportunities, expansion of business activity and public prosperity.
He expressed hope that government’s economic policies and investment promotion measures would bring further positive changes in economic landscape of the country by the next Independence Day and help Pakistan move further towards a strong, stable and prosperous future.
On this occasion, Qaiser Sheikh also distributed free petrol among motorcyclists at the rate of five liters per person as part of his annual Independence Day initiative.
