Lahore: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision for Development, calling it an inspiration for regional progress, while reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to pursuing broad-based reforms and harnessing modern technology for economic transformation.
Speaking at an event in Islamabad, Sharif said Pakistan was “a nation rich in natural resources” and was now learning from past mistakes to build a more resilient economy through institutional reforms.
“Digital governance key to curbing corruption”
The prime minister said the government had launched a series of reform initiatives across key sectors and highlighted the digital transformation of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as a major achievement.
“The FBR has been completely digitized, which has significantly reduced corruption and improved transparency,” Sharif said, noting that digital governance was central to improving efficiency and restoring public trust in institutions.
Youth and climate among top priorities
Sharif emphasized that Pakistan’s youth comprising nearly 60% of the population represent the country’s greatest asset and that their empowerment was crucial to sustainable growth.
He also underscored Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change, noting that the country ranks among the world’s top ten most climate-affected nations. “Floods, cloudbursts and other natural disasters have caused billions of dollars in damages,” he said, adding that recovery efforts require substantial funding and global cooperation.
Push for innovation and AI-led agriculture
Highlighting the role of technology in future development, Sharif said Pakistan was moving rapidly toward adopting artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies to modernize its economy — particularly in agriculture.
“The government is utilizing all available resources to benefit from AI and to introduce innovation in farming and production,” he said. Furthermore, he noted that in order to build on these efforts, “our youth are being trained in AI technologies in partnership with China, thereby helping to establish a knowledge-based and technology-driven economy.”
Call for equitable global cooperation
The prime minister urged the international community to promote fair and equal cooperation across all sectors, saying humanity could only advance if development opportunities were shared.
“True progress lies in collective effort and equitable growth,” Sharif said. “Pakistan stands ready to work with all nations committed to innovation, reform and sustainable prosperity.”
