Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif Admits End to ‘Begging Bowl’ Diplomacy, Urges Economic Self-Reliance

By A Staff Reporter

Quetta, Pakistan — In a rare and candid admission, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the country's long-standing economic dependence on allied nations, declaring that close partners no longer expect Islamabad to approach them with a "begging bowl." Speaking to military personnel in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, Sharif emphasized a decisive shift toward economic self-reliance, supported by Pakistan’s powerful military leadership.

“I am the last person, along with Field Marshal Asim Munir, to carry this economic burden on our shoulders,” Sharif stated. “The Almighty has blessed us with natural and human resources. We must make full use of them and deploy them for profitable ventures.”

He referred to key international partners such as China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, and the UAE, describing them as “time-tested” and “reliable” friends. However, he pointed out a clear change in expectations from these allies. “They expect us now to engage in trade, commerce, innovation, research and development, education, and health — not dependency. They no longer expect us to go there with a begging bowl,” he added.