Govt to build international airport in Bannu, says PM

Taking a jibe at PTI chairman, PM Nawaz says he has not seen ‘naya Pakistan’ in K-P

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday announced the establishment of an international airport in Bannu, alongside other development projects in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

"We will build an international airport in Bannu," the premier said while addressing an inauguration ceremony. "This is 'Naya Pakistan'," he told a cheering crowd.

The premier inaugurated several development projects, including four major highways, a university in Lakki Marwat, besides announcing Rs200 million for development projects in Bannu district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).



“I have not seen ‘naya Pakistan’ anywhere in K-P, where the provincial government has been in power for three years,” PM Nawaz said. The premier arrived in Bannu as part of his public image building campaign following revelations of his family’s alleged offshore wealth in Panama Papers last month.

“During my visit to K-P, I saw the same broken roads and bridges which show no development works are being done in the province. If we had made a provincial government in this province we would have created a new K-P.”

Taking a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, the prime minister said: “Those who cried rigging in 2013 general election did not even seek apology from the people after the Supreme Court of Pakistan settled the case, saying no rigging was carried out in the elections.”

Earlier, the prime minister laid the foundation stone of a gas supply project to five union councils of Bannu which will cost Rs259 million and will complete in a year.



Earlier on Monday, the prime minister inaugurated the National Health Programme in Balochistan. According to a statement, the programme under which 300,000 poor patients are likely to avail free treatment, will initially be launched in Quetta, Loralai, Turbat and Lasbela districts.

“The programme has been launched to provide health facilities to people living below poverty line,” PM Nawaz said during an address in Governor House Balochistan. “As many as 76,000 families in Balochistan will receive their national health cards today,” the premier said, adding through this programme, the poor can get treated for fatal diseases, without spending any money.

The premier also inaugurated various projects, including the gas supply project to Qila Abdullah and Enayatullah Karaiz, along with a project for gas supply to Mastung, Qalat and adjoining areas during his one-day visit.

Government has been under tremendous pressure since the Panama Papers revealed the names of around 220 Pakistanis, including Nawaz Sharif’s immediate family members, keeping offshore accounts in international tax havens.

PM launches National Health Programme for 76,000 families in Quetta

A massive leak of 11.5 million tax documents on April 3 had exposed the secret offshore dealings of world leaders and celebrities. Among those named were three of PM Nawaz’s children – Maryam, Hasan and Hussain – with the records showing they owned London real estate through offshore companies administrated by the firm.

The documents, from around 214,000 offshore entities, came from Mossack Fonseca, a Panama-based law firm with offices in more than 35 countries.

'No schools should be closed'

Meanwhile, PTI chairman Imran Khan lamented that some schools were shut during the premier’s visit to the areas, saying administration of the institutions will face action.

“A university in Mansehra was closed during PM Nawaz Sharif's visit and now a school in Bannu was shut down due to the same reason,” Imran Khan said while addressing the inaugural ceremony of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Games on Tuesday.