Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif hailed the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) reaching its historic peak as a testament to growing investor confidence, highlighting the government’s collective efforts toward economic progress. Addressing a federal cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Sharif announced that every ministry’s performance will be evaluated every two months, with commendations for excellence and disciplinary action for shortcomings.

Speaking to the cabinet, PM Sharif congratulated the nation, federal and provincial governments, and relevant authorities for ensuring peaceful Muharram processions and gatherings, highlighting national unity and solidarity as a hopeful sign.

He expressed grief over the loss of lives in Swat due to recent heavy rainfall, urging lessons to be learned and effective measures to be implemented to prevent future tragedies. He further praised the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), describing it as a strong institution, and commended NDMA Chairman Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) for their proactive response.

The Prime Minister emphasized the PSX’s bullish trend as a reflection of investor trust, stating, “Our collective efforts for economic growth will bear fruit, Inshallah.” With the government 18 months into its tenure, Sharif reiterated the need for accountability, saying, “We will assess ministry performance every two months. Those who excel will be our crown, but those falling short will face clear consequences.”

He singled out Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal for outstanding performance, highlighting that over Rs. 1 trillion has been spent on development projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), calling it a “pleasant surprise” and one of the government’s finest achievements. The Prime Minister also congratulated the Ministry of Finance on its performance.