Pakistan stands side by side with oppressed Palestinians: Caretaker PM Kakar

ISLAMABAD (APP) - Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Thursday said it was a war between oppressor Israel and oppressed Palestinians and Pakistan stands side by side with the oppressed Palestinians until they achieve their right to self-determination and an independent Palestinian state.

Talking to a delegation of Council of Pakistan Newspapers’ Editors (CPNE) led by its president Irshad Arif here, he said that Pakistan was in contact with Saudi Arabia for ceasefire between Israel and Palestine.

With respect to the Afghan refugees’ issue, he said: “Afghans are our brothers, and no one is sending back legally residing Afghan refugees." However he made it clear that the illegal aliens were being deported and strict action would be taken against them after October 31.

He said that the government was making the process of privatization of loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs) fast and transparent as privatization of loss-making public institutions would reduce the loss to the country’s exchequer. With the involvement of the private sector, the prime minister said positive business competition would increase and the best facilities would be available to the public.

The prime minister pointed out that he presented the cultural aspect of climate change to the world by referring to the Holy Quran. With respect to smuggling of foreign currency, he said strict measures were being taken to stop smuggling of dollars in the short term. "The rising value of the rupee against the dollar is a testament to the success of this campaign," he said, adding that the Managing Director International Monetary Fund (IMF) had also appreciated the government’s measures to stop smuggling and illegal transaction of foreign currency.

About his upcoming visit to China, PM Kakar informed that Pakistan-China strategic relations, bilateral trade, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and tourism promotion would be discussed during the visit. Similarly, he said plans to take full advantage of the potential of tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan would also be part of the discussions.  

The prime minister said the newspapers should play their role in promoting such an environment in which everybody should listen to the differences of opinions. He directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Finance Ministry to resolve all issues of the newspapers on priority.