- Says first priority of the govt is to stabilise the economy and provide the people all possible relief to minimise their problems
- Says work is in progress to provide temporary shelters and two times meal to the poor and destitute in various cities
- Says China to give Pakistan short and long term economic packages
- Calls for opening channels of humanitarian aid for Yemeni people
ISLAMABAD, November 7: Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday said the country was passing through a critical juncture, but expressed hope the people would see a visible change in the next six months.
The prime minister stated so while speaking to National Assembly members from Swabi, Mardan, Charsaddah, Nowshera and Peshawar districts at his office.
Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Minister of State Ali Mohammad Khan and Special Assistant to PM Naeemul Haq were also present during the meeting. The parliamentarians informed the premier about problems of their respective constituencies and development projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Khan assured them of resolution of problems of their constituencies on priority basis. The prime minister said the Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was committed to implement its manifesto and fulfill all its promises made with the people.
He said that maintenance of the law and order situation and writ of the government was his top priority.
Khan said that when the PTI came into power the country was passing through a critical financial crisis and first priority of the government was to approach friendly countries to stabilise the economy, and provide the people all possible relief to minimise their problems.
He said the government was also working on giving required facilities to export industry to increase the country’s exports besides efforts were also being made to provide health, education and other facilities to the people on priority basis.
The prime minister told the parliamentarians that five-million housing scheme of the government would not only provide housing facilities to the people but it would also generate economic activities in the country and provide job opportunities to youth.
“Work is also in progress to provide temporary shelters and two times meal to the poor and destitute in various cities,” he said.
Khan said the MNAs of constituencies where survey about Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) had not been conducted should inform the government so that the survey about poverty alleviation could be conducted in those areas on priority basis.
“This country has a lot of potential,” he said, adding that about 100 million talented youth under the age of 35 years had the ability to change the destiny of Pakistan.
He said the ministers had been made responsible about their duties and their performance would be reviewed regularly, adding that the PTI government had set the tradition of assessing performance of the cabinet members for the first time.
The prime minister further said the process of accountability would continue, despite hue and cry by the elements who were afraid of it.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that China will give Pakistan ‘short-term’ and ‘long-term’ economic packages.
China will help Pakistan in every way possible, PM Khan told the PTI lawmakers in a meeting on Wednesday.
PM Khan, who returned Islamabad on Monday night after concluding his first official visit to China, said that Pakistani and Chinese authorities have decided to make Rashkai economic zones operational.
The prime minister also told his party lawmakers to highlight the incompetence of the previous governments in the assemblies.
In a separate press conference, Textile and Industry Adviser Razak Dawood said that China has agreed to give Pakistan access to its markets and it’s is actually a success of PM Khan.
In its initial stages, energy and infrastructure projects were in focus, but now the government has decided to extend it to other areas.
Meanwhile, emphasizing that all stakeholders must engage in dialogue process, Prime Minster Imran Khan called for opening channels of humanitarian assistance for the people suffering from famine in Yemen.
“The conflict in Yemen affects the regional peace and stability and no military solution can resolve it,” he said during his meeting with Ambassador of Yemen to Pakistan Mohammed Motahar Alashabi, who called on him in Islamabad.
Imran Khan has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to play its role in bringing all the parties on the negotiating table for a political settlement of the Yemen conflict.
He assured the ambassador of unwavering support of Pakistan for an early resolution of the conflict, in light of UN Security Council Resolution 2216 and restoration of the legitimate government of President Abdurabuh Mansour Hadi in Yemen. -DNA / Agencies
