| Vows steps to cut inflation, poverty ahead of next polls
| Notifies ISI as SVA for screening all public office holders
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday blamed the ousted government of PTI for the prevailing economic meltdown, saying that his predecessor Imran Khan had “set a trap” for his government by decreasing prices of petroleum products after assessing that no-confidence vote against him was going to succeed.
“Last night, the government increased the prices of petroleum products with a heavy heart,” Shehbaz said while addressing the inauguration of Gwadar East Bay Expressway.
Lashing out at the former government, the prime minister said that it only provided relief to the people after realising that the vote of no-confidence was going to succeed. “They never provided subsidies on wheat and sugar, prices of which affect poor people the most,” he added.
Shehbaz said that his government tried to manage the petrol price initially but admitted that the government was in no position to continue the subsidies on petroleum products.
“We have very limited gas reserves and most of them are depleting… we’re 98 per cent dependent [from outside] to meet our energy needs,” he said while giving reasons for the price hike, adding that the government was forced to take the drastic measure as it had no other option.
The premier said that the government provided Rs2,000 relief to 80 million people. “This money can be used for any purpose i.e. to purchase petrol, wheat etc. We have not limited it to any one commodity,” he added.
Urging the elites to come forward and help out the poor to mitigate the effects of inflation, Shehbaz vowed that the government will take a lead and will also adopt austerity measures.
“I have called a meeting tomorrow. The austerity measures will be implemented on all government officials and it starts with me,” he added.
He said that as a nation, we have to take these drastic steps so that Pakistan can be put back on track for prosperity and progress.
Talking about Gwadar and the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, Shehbaz said that the East Bay link will connect Gwadar to Karachi, adding that the government was aware of the needs of people living in the small port town.
“For 3,200 families living here, China is providing solar panels. Our security agencies are providing excellent security to Chinese residing here as well,” he added.
He admitted that the pace of work in Gwadar has been slow and not satisfactory. “Today, we examined all the development work here. I must admit the pace of development is not satisfactory. Gwadar airport could not be made operational yet. In 2017-2018, we inaugurated it.”
He said that despite being funded by China 100 per cent, the slow progress on the airport project was regrettable.
Shehbaz also regretted that the people of Gwadar could not be provided sufficient drinkable water yet. “Desalination plants should have been built long ago and drinkable water should have been in every household by now.”
He informed that many heavy ships cannot come to Gwadar port as it needed drilling in some locations. “The negligence from the former government halted the process. I have tasked Ahsan Iqbal to take this matter on war footing,” he added.
PM Shehbaz also announced including 0.5 million families from Balochistan in Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and added that all poor families from Gwadar will be covered under it.
He said that the local fishermen in the city needed new boat engines, announcing that the government would give them 2,000 engines free of cost via balloting.
He further said that funds for Gwadar University will be provided in the upcoming budget.
CLEAN DRINKING WATER, SOLAR POWER
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday said every person in Gwadar would be given clean drinking water and free of cost electricity with solar panels.
Talking to fishermen here at an event, the prime minister said he would chair a meeting on Saturday on the issues pertaining to Gwadar. Progress and prosperity of people of Gwadar would be ensured, he added. Shehbaz said the government would consider setting up a solar park to provide cheap electricity to the residents of Gwadar.
China will give 3200 solar panels for the people of the coastal town, he told.
The prime minister said about 2000 fishermen would be given free of cost engines in coming weeks for fishing boats.
He assured that the government would take steps against illegal trawling in the Arabian sea.
“I will come again to Gwadar in a fortnight to have a detailed discussion to resolve issues of the fishing community,” he added.
ISI MADE AS SVA FOR SCREENING ALL PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has notified the country’s premium intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as a Special Vetting Agency (SVA) for verification and screening of all public office holders.
“The prime minister is pleased to notify Directorate General Inter-Services Intelligence as Special Vetting Agency (SVA) for verification and screening of all Public Office Holders (officers category) for induction, important posting/appointments and promotions,” said the official notification issued by the Establishment Division following the premier’s approval on Friday.
Earlier, Intelligence Bureau was performing as Special Vetting Agency (SVA) for induction, important posting/appointments and promotions of civil servants.
STEPS TO CUT INFLATION, POVERTY AHEAD OF NEXT POLLS
On the other hand, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that next general election in the country will be held within 15 months and his goal meanwhile would be to address the challenges of inflation and poverty.
“My vision is to rebuild Pakistan and try my best to decrease poverty and cut the budget of government sector to ensure austerity,” he said in an interview with Turkish state-television TRT, during his three-day official visit to Ankara.
PM Sharif said his government ahead of elections would take short-term measures to address the problems faced by the general public.
However, he stressed that if the people’s will brings his party to power in next election, a full-fledged development agenda would be launched to deal with issues such as unemployment and poverty.
The prime minister said the global skyrocketing prices of fuel had compelled his government to increase the cost of oil and gas.
Responding to a question about the political situation in Pakistan, he said for the first time in the history, a no-confidence vote had succeeded.
“This is a constitutional and legal transition which has been provided in the Constitution. It is a big step forward, rather a quantum jump,” he said.
From this point onward, he stressed that this would be an acceptable norm in Pakistan that if a majority of parliamentarians feel to have a particular government, they should be allowed to vote freely under the law of land.
He pointed that previously a similar situations witnessed martial laws and military interventions. “But now, this has changed the entire ballgame and must be supported,” he said.
The prime minister said Pakistan and Turkey were pursuing the road map of regional cooperation with immense understanding and unity existed between the two leaderships.
Terming his Ankara visit as “phenomenal”, he said the people-to-people bond between the two nations was grounded in history.
He mentioned the pre-partition time where the Muslims of Indian sub-continent supported the Turkish movement.
“The relationship between our forefathers has become a permanent brotherhood for the days to come,” he said.
On Pak-Turk defence ties, he said Pakistan desired joint collaboration in military projects and added that the launch of MILGEM warship was in line with the same vision.
On setting the target of achieving $5 billion trade with Turkey, he said the objective was to expand the scope of trade and investment in diverse fields for the benefit of two nations.
On Turkey’s anti-terrorism steps against YPG/PKK terrorists in Syria, he said since Pakistan had been a big victim of terrorism, it supported the Turkish leadership on its efforts to eradicate the menace.
PM Sharif emphasized on a trilateral arrangement among China, Pakistan and Turkey to join the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
“The participation of Turkey in CPEC will translate into regional economic prosperity of the region,” he said, adding that he had proposed the same to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
He said Turkey’s vast expertise in road infrastructure and energy projects could make the multi-billion regional project a win-win.
