LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif said Monday that the Punjab cabinet has decided to reject foreign aid, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to the media in Lahore, Shahbaz called for the country to focus on trade rather than aid.

The chief minister said that foreign aid has increased the country’s problems instead of helping solve them. He added that the issues the country will face after denying foreign aid will only be temporary and the new policies should focus on building trade instead.