Pakistan has no choice, but to crush the terrorism as the country welcomes economic stability, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told the apex committee on Tuesday.

“We have no choice but to crush terrorism first and foremost. Our mission is clear. Number one is the eradication of terrorism, number two is the eradication of terrorism and number three is the eradication of terrorism,” he said while presiding over the body’s meeting in Islamabad.

Pakistan has seen an increase in militancy since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021, with the Pakistani chapter of the movement carrying out attacks mostly targeting security forces.

In the recent past, terrorists have attacked civilians and Chinese nationals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Karachi.

Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, heads of intelligence agencies, provincial chief ministers, and key federal ministers, alongside senior civil and military leadership attended the meeting.

The apex committee conducted a detailed review of the overall law and order situation in the country. It also focused on the implementation status of the National Action Plan for Counter-Terrorism.

Discussions included improving coordination between the provinces and the federal government, as well as effective sharing of intelligence information. The committee examined the reasons behind the rising incidents of terrorism in KP and Balochistan and participants were briefed on the outcomes of intelligence-based operations.

It is noteworthy that the meeting was initially scheduled for Monday but had to be postponed due to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s health issues.

“Pakistan is moving towards stability,” the premier said and acknowledged the army chief’s role in this progress. He expressed gratitude to all attendants and highlighted that both economic and political stability are essential for development and prosperity.

PM Shehbaz extended special thanks to the provinces, particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, for their support in achieving success in the International Monetary Fund programme.

He also noted that the stock exchange had reached its highest level in history, inflation was in single digits, and the policy rate had been reduced to 15%.

The premier noted that there has been a significant increase in information technology exports and remittances. But he warned that “this does not mean that the path to development and prosperity is now clear; real progress will only be achieved through both domestic and foreign investment.”

“This IMF programme should be the last in Pakistan’s history, but achieving this will require hard work, integrity, and dedication,” the premier said and called for collaboration among all provinces and the federal government.

He also revealed a shocking case where an attempt was made to defraud the nation of billions by creating fake invoices through the account of an 80-year-old woman. The premier claimed that the fraud was uncovered on March 26 of this year when an official wrote to the Federal Board of Revenue, which led to the revelation that Rs370 million had already been siphoned off through such fraudulent invoices. “If it had continued, billions would have been lost to the nation.”

PM Shehbaz stressed that stopping tax evasion worth trillions “is crucial” for filling the national treasury and urged everyone to join hands to propel the country forward.

“There have been no false schemes, and no one has been given the opportunity to speak against them during the eight months of his government,” he said.

He acknowledged the efforts of Sindh’s chief minister in the fight against polio and praised the Punjab CM for her “work” on agricultural taxation.

PM Shehbaz reiterated that if sacrifices are to be made, they should come from the elite, not the poor, who have been making sacrifices for the past 70 years. “The elite must demonstrate a spirit of selflessness.”

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Without targeting anyone specifically, he stated that during former PM Nawaz Sharif’s tenure, a comprehensive programme was developed to combat terrorism. By 2018, the mark of terrorism had faded, but not without the sacrifice of 80,000 lives. He highlighted that terrorism has cost Pakistan’s economy a staggering $130 billion.

PM Shehbaz expressed grave concerns over the resurgence of terrorism in Pakistan, questioning what has allowed this menace to rise again. “There is hardly a day that passes without a terrorist incident in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.”

While stressing the need for political unity to drive national development, he said: “Fear grips the entire nation, with parents worried about the safety of their children.”

He added: “If demonstrations are to occur, they should not hinder progress. I respectfully request all parties to approach issues with a calm mindset and decide whether to engage in protests or to build a path towards development.”