The Punjab Cabinet has decided to reject foreign aid, and its recommendation will be sent to Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif for a final approval to the decision.
In his post-cabinet briefing to media persons, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif demanded that the entire nation say no to foreign aid, which he said has proven to be a 'poison' for the country's sovereignty and integrity.
"We have traded our sovereignty by accepting foreign aid, which is not required for welfare of the masses rather for luxurious lifestyle," The Nation quoted Shahbaz, as saying.
"Orders from abroad have aggravated rather than resolve problems. Some foreign forces are never tired of declaring Pakistan a strategic partner, but the 'partnership' they have displayed on strategic issues is known to the world," he complained.
He also said that the Pakistanis would have to break the 'begging bowl' to live as an independent nation, adding: "Problems and hardships after the decision will prove to be transitory."
Shahbaz said he was confident that the decision taken by Punjab would prove to be a starting point of a national movement for economic independence, national sovereignty and security of the country.
"The decision to give up foreign aid does not mean that relations with other countries should be impaired, but it is aimed to promote trade instead of aid, and shun the habit of reliance on others for correcting mistakes of the past," he said.
Meanwhile, during his trip to Karachi, Nawaz also spoke in the same vein about rejecting foreign aid.
"Before any one else suspends our aid, we should ourselves decide to take anymore of it," Geo TV quoted the PML-N chief, as saying. (ANI)
