Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal underscored on Thursday the importance of uplifting the private sector in a bid to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Addressing an event in Islamabad, Iqbal said: "The issue of climate change was raised due to the industrial revolution. For the sake of achieving development in the country, the economic and social goals will be equal."

"Our neighbour has reached his destination. For how long will we continue to drag into  a vortex" he said.

Iqbal said: "The identity of our country is intelligence and hard work, not corruption.".

"We will have to improve our identification by ending the menace of corruption and incompetence," Iqbal said.

Underscoring the challenges faced by the country due to the environmental changes, Iqbal said: "Pakistan is suffering from climate change."

– Ahsan Iqbal raps Indian PM Modi over 'bangle' remarks –

Earlier on Wednesday, Iqbal lambasted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latter's "bangle" remarks during the election campaign.

Addressing an event, Iqbal said: "The next 24 years will be crucial for us to tell India where we stand. The Indian premier is taunting Pakistan during the election campaign."

"The total income of Pakistan is Rs7,000 billion. However, the debt repayment bill is Rs 8,000 billion," said Iqbal.

"Pakistan has to pay the debts of up to $77 billion in the next three years,"  he added.

He stressed the need to boost exports and foreign exchange reserves.

Underscoring the importance of paying tax, Iqbal said: "People feel that it is a crime to pay tax."

"Half of the country's population does not even pay the electricity bill," he lamented.

Read Also: Pakistan needs to move ahead of China to complete CPEC: Iqbal

Iqbal maintained: "There is a dire need to make the country the national economic charter. We can do much more by handling things in a better way in 10 years."

"It is the need of the hour to move forward the economic agenda for success. There is a need to stabilise and continue the policies," he said.

"Political stability and law and order are important to achieve economic development in the country," Iqbal added.

"We were ahead of everybody else in the region till 2000," Iqbal said.

He acknowledged the role of the Shehbaz Sharif-led government, saying, "We have saved the country from default by taking tough decisions."