Govt fully cognizant about inflation but nation have to be a little patient: PM
ISLAMABAD (92 News) - Admitting regarding price hike, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said that the government is fully cognizant of the problems being faced by the people due to inflation but the nation have to be a little patient.
Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke to the masses through telephone and answered different questions. Pakistani citizens called the prime minister and asked questions related to different issues, including the coronavirus vaccine, issues of Balochistan, and the concept of Riyasat-e-Madina, among others.
Interacting with the general public on telephone in a program titled 'Aap Ka Wazir-e-Azam Aap Kay Sath' on Monday - when asked about the inflation - the prime minister said the government is fully cognizant of the problems being faced by the people due to price hike.
He also said he is regularly holding meetings on the issue, and the consumer price index has now started witnessing a decline due to the policies of the government.
Influential, corrupt people to be held accountable
Imran Khan has stressed that holding the influential and powerful people accountable is important to uplift the country. He said the country cannot be taken forward and achieve prosperity without effective rule of law.
He said the alliance of opposition parties has come together and is pressurizing the government over the last two and a half years to get an NRO.
He said that giving an NRO to the corrupt elements will be tantamount to treason with the country. "We are paying the price of the NRO given by former President Pervez Musharraf to the corrupt leaders," he added.
He said the Broadsheet exposes the whole saga of corruption. He said SC former Judge Justice retired Azmat Saeed who has the relevant expertise, has been entrusted the responsibility to probe into the matter and bring the facts before the public.
The premier said a crackdown has also been started against the land grabbers to recover the official and private lands from this mafia. He said laws will also be enacted to wage a war against the land mafia.
All powers delegated to provinces after 18th amendment
To a question about the lack of civic amenities in Hyderabad district of Sindh, the prime minister said all the powers have been delegated to the provinces after the passage of 18th amendment and it is now their responsibility to look after the development work.
Malpractices in Senate elections
Regretting the malpractices in the Senate elections, the Prime Minister said the government is bringing a constitutional amendment in the National Assembly this week to hold the elections of upper house through open ballot. He said the nation will itself witness as to who does not want an end to buying and selling of votes in the elections. He recalled that it was the PPP and the PML (N) which had committed through the Charter of Democracy to hold the Senate polls through open ballot.
Nawaz can't deny of receiving money from Osama Bin Laden
Responding to a caller, the prime msaid the Election Commission of Pakistan should take the case of foreign funding of political parties to its logical conclusion. He said the opposition parties have no record of donors. He said these parties themselves stand trapped as Nawaz Sharif cannot deny of receiving money from Osama Bin Laden and JUI (F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman from Libya. He said PTI is the only party which has transparent record of its donations.
Great potential of edible oil production in country
Highlighting the great potential of edible oil production in the country, the Prime Minister said a major olive plantation drive will be launched this month to bolster domestic production of this fruit. He was confident there will be olive revolution in the country which will not only promote the healthy food but also help save precious foreign exchange currently being spent on its import.
PIA to be turned into professional, profitable entity
Alluding to the losses of State Owned Enterprises, the Prime Minister said the present government is determined to revamp them and run on modern lines. He said PIA will be turned into a professional and profitable entity.
Will talk to US President Biden over Kashmir issue
On Kashmir dispute, PM Khan voiced concerns over the grave human rights situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and LOC violations in which a number of innocent people have been martyred and injured. He said he has raised the issue at every international forum to sensitize the world community about the gravity of the situation.
He said he will also talk to the new US President Joe Biden to urge him to pressurize India to stop its campaign of oppression in the occupied territory. On Kashmir solidarity day being observed on Friday next, Imran Khan said he will address a public gathering in Kotli to express solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiri people.
Effort is to promote cricket
About cricket, the premier said our effort is to promote cricket at the regional level. He was confident that the performance of our national team will also improve in the days to come.
Frontline healthcare workers to be administered vaccine first
To a question regarding the coronavirus vaccine and the first consignment of the vaccine which has arrived from China today, the prime minister clarified that frontline healthcare workers will be the first to receive the jabs.
He said our policy is to administer the vaccine to the frontline health workers in the first phase. In the next phase, the vaccine will be given to those above sixty years of age or faced with some serious diseases. He assured the vaccine will be administered as per the laid down criterion without any discrimination.
Govt will not differentiate between rich, poor
He also assured the masses that the government will not consider a person's socioeconomic status or the difference between the rich and poor when vaccinating them but will only stick to the set criteria for vaccination.
Will not retreat from making Pakistan as state of Madina
Replying to another caller regarding the eulogisation of the concept of a 'Riyasat-e-Madina' and asked how would the government ensure the materialisation of the concept, PM Khan assured that there is no question of retreating from making Pakistan as state of Madina.
The Prime Minister said the State of Madina was based on modern concepts such as rule of law, meritocracy and protection of human rights. He said the last sermon delivered by Hazrat Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wa Sallam Khatim un Nabiyeen is the charter of humanity.
He expressed the commitment to build Pakistan on the principles of State of Madina as there is no other way. He said Pakistan is on the course of becoming a great nation by pursuing that path. He said the subject of Seerat un Nabi (SAW) will now be taught in the classes of seven, eight and nine.
Western countries hurting sentiments of Muslims
When asked about Islamophobia, the premier stressed all the Muslim countries will have to unitedly raise its voice to address the issue. He said he has also written letters to the heads of Muslim countries in the wake of France incident. He said under the garb of freedom of expression, the western countries are hurting the sentiments of Muslims.
Historic package for development of South Balochistan
To a question, the Prime Minister said developing backward areas of the country including Balochistan and tribal districts is the foremost priority of the government. "We have given a historic package for the development of South Balochistan and it envisages a whole range of different projects including those related to connectivity," he maintianed.
"We have also decided to provide 3G and 4G facility in these areas to bring improvement in the living standards of the people there," he said.
Naya Pakistan Housing for low income groups
Imran Khan said the government has initiated Naya Pakistan Housing program to provide low cost housing units to the low income groups.
Govt to make all out efforts to turn GB into tourism hub
Responding to a question about Gilgit Baltistan, Imran Khan said the government will make all out efforts to turn this region into a tourism hub. He said several projects have been envisaged for this purpose which will bring prosperity in the lives of the people.
He said a grid station and small hydro power projects will be established in Gilgit Baltistan to address its electricity issues. He said road infrastructure projects will also be executed to open the region for tourism.
