DERA GHAZI KHAN: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan cannot move forward on the path of progress without eliminating terrorism even though its economy has stablised.

Peace is requisite for development and the federal government is committed to uniform progress and prosperity of all areas, including south Punjab, PM Shehbaz told a public rally here on Saturday.

The enemies of Pakistan, including Fitna al Khwarij, were carrying out terrorist activities inKhyberPakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces and security forces were offering sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, he said, asking the nation to remember their sacrifices. He expressed the resolve that together the nation would defeat the ene-mies of Pakistan.

In a veiled reference to the PTI, the premier said mounting `attacks on Islamabad` in the past had caused immense losses to the country, explaining that even one-day strike caused billions of losses to the national kitty.

The prime minister said that his leader Nawaz Sharif had decided to sacrifice party politics for the sake of country`s progress as when the PML-N came to power, inflation rate was over 40 per cent. The PML-N government with hard work and pro-development policies managed to bring inflation and interest rates down to 2.4pc and 12pc, respectively, he pointed out.

The PM, who was accompanied by Federal Minister for Power Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, and other cabinet members, praised all the leaders of the region for working hard for the uplift of their respectiveareas. He mentioned that Mr Leghari was making untiring efforts to provide relief to the masses in electricity bills through reforms.

Expressing his views in Seraiki dialect, PM Shehbaz said Nawaz Sharif and he had a strong bond with this region. He said he worked day and night to alleviate sufferings of the masses during the 2010 floods when destruction was witnessed everywhere in these areas.

`I have come to convey that Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif are working day and night for the uplift of entire province, particularly for south Punjab,` he added.

The prime minister said during his previous tenures, he had worked for the establishment of Danish schools, hospitals, provision of free medicines and livestock, award of scholarships, besides allocating extraquota for the youth of the area in different sectors.

He said the chief minister was expanding road and hospital network across the province. The CM has launched Kissan cards, different health and education centres, besides working for the establishment of Nawaz Sharif cancer hospital in Lahore, he mentioned.

PM Shehbaz said seeking foreign loans was no solution to the country`s economic issues. Without loans, they would change the fate of the country by shedding sweat and blood, he said, adding that he did not believe in hollow slogans.

He said that an era of progress and prosperity had dawned upon the area, announcing the construction of a cancer hospital in Dera Ghazi Khan and the establishment of a university in Rajanpur.

Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanvir Hussain, Attaullah Tarar and PM`s adviser Rana Sanaullah accompanied the prime minister.

Earlier, Minister for Power Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari in his welcome address said people had arrived in large numbers to acknowledge the prime minister`s development agenda.

He pointed out that PM Shehbaz had given Rs131 billion development package for this area.

`PML-N is a party for the bright future of country,` he said, adding that the construction of roads in the area would usher in an era of prosperity.

The chief of Leghari tribe, Jamal Khan Leghari. also spoke and thanked the prime minister for his affection for the people of D.G. Khan and his development initiatives.

Foreign visit Meanwhile, the Foreign Office announced that PM Shehbaz would leave on Monday for a two-day state visit to Azerbaijan at the invitation ofAzerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

The PM would visit Azerbaijan from Feb 24 to Feb 25, the FO added.

PM Shehbaz, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other senior officials, will hold talks aimed at strengthening cooperation in trade, energy, defence, education and climate, the FO stated.

Both sides are expected to sign multiple agreements during the visit.

The PM will deliver a keynote address at a business forum organised with Azerbaijan`s Export and Investment Promotion Agency.

He and President Aliyev will also visit Fuzuli in Karabakh, part of Azerbaijan`s recently reclaimed territory.

This would be PM Shehbaz`s second visit to Azerbaijan in less than a year.

Pakistan and Azerbaijan have longstanding diplomatic and economic ties, and the visit aims to further deepen bilateral cooperation, the FO said.

Baqir Sajjad Syed in Islamabad also contributed to this report