Govt projects ‘intended for kickbacks'
PTI Central Punjab president says PML-N is not interested in public welfare
PHOTO: Reuters
LAHORE:
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz led government only introduced megaprojects to create more opportunities to receive kickbacks.
This was stated by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Punjab President Abdul Aleem Khan. He was speaking at a food security conference held at a local hotel on Monday.
Khan said that instead of public welfare projects like hospitals, schools and clean drinking water schemes, the rulers diverted resources to metro trains and buses as well as roads and underpasses.
He added nearly 80% of the city's population was forced to drink contaminated water, but rulers were only focused on money-making projects. "It is impossible to teach honesty to rulers who have looted the public exchequer and accumulated billions of rupees worth of assets abroad in the name of children and family members."
Orange Line Metro Train: Govt likely to miss deadline due to stay orders
Khan said that in his constituency, the government has constructed a Lahore Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) track, but failed to provide basic facilities to citizens. "It is not the government's priority to resolve pressing public issues. If it were, Lahore would have world-class infrastructure in the provincial metropolis."
The PTI leader said the current crisis-like situation in the country was a result of corruption and bad governance. "The lack of an honest leadership is one the biggest challenges of the country. After winning the upcoming general election, our party will put a permanent end to pilferage and ensure that public resources are guarded."
He underlined that the PTI had the best team of professionals who can easily change the face of agriculture in Pakistan. He said the PML-N government had always tried to ignore agriculture farmers who provide grains, food and other commodities for populations living in the city."
Speaking on the occasion, PTI central Punjab Vice President Jamshed Iqbal Cheema said that whenever his party would have a chance to form a government in the country, they would introduce reforms in the agriculture sector to increase production and ensure the wellbeing of farmers.
Cheema said that due to the negligence on the part of the government, a large number of children were underweight and around 8% died before reaching five years of age. He added this was due to the lack of required food and nutrients.
He said that despite the fact that Nawaz Sharif had “distributed” a fund of Rs30 billion to eradicate food scarcity, half of the women in the country did not get the necessary nourishment. He claimed the amount was distributed by the former PM to his cronies as a political bribe.
First Orange Line Metro train rolls out
"The country's population is increasing rapidly and availability of food is decreasing," he said. He added Pakistan was the only country in the world which hardly puts 1% of its agriculture income back into the fields. The PTI leader stated other countries out a major chunk of their income back to the sector. He stressed if the government does not pay attention to the agricultural sector and food security, the people of Pakistan will have to face a challenging situation in future.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2017.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz led government only introduced megaprojects to create more opportunities to receive kickbacks.
This was stated by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Punjab President Abdul Aleem Khan. He was speaking at a food security conference held at a local hotel on Monday.
Khan said that instead of public welfare projects like hospitals, schools and clean drinking water schemes, the rulers diverted resources to metro trains and buses as well as roads and underpasses.
He added nearly 80% of the city's population was forced to drink contaminated water, but rulers were only focused on money-making projects. "It is impossible to teach honesty to rulers who have looted the public exchequer and accumulated billions of rupees worth of assets abroad in the name of children and family members."
Orange Line Metro Train: Govt likely to miss deadline due to stay orders
Khan said that in his constituency, the government has constructed a Lahore Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) track, but failed to provide basic facilities to citizens. "It is not the government's priority to resolve pressing public issues. If it were, Lahore would have world-class infrastructure in the provincial metropolis."
The PTI leader said the current crisis-like situation in the country was a result of corruption and bad governance. "The lack of an honest leadership is one the biggest challenges of the country. After winning the upcoming general election, our party will put a permanent end to pilferage and ensure that public resources are guarded."
He underlined that the PTI had the best team of professionals who can easily change the face of agriculture in Pakistan. He said the PML-N government had always tried to ignore agriculture farmers who provide grains, food and other commodities for populations living in the city."
Speaking on the occasion, PTI central Punjab Vice President Jamshed Iqbal Cheema said that whenever his party would have a chance to form a government in the country, they would introduce reforms in the agriculture sector to increase production and ensure the wellbeing of farmers.
Cheema said that due to the negligence on the part of the government, a large number of children were underweight and around 8% died before reaching five years of age. He added this was due to the lack of required food and nutrients.
He said that despite the fact that Nawaz Sharif had “distributed” a fund of Rs30 billion to eradicate food scarcity, half of the women in the country did not get the necessary nourishment. He claimed the amount was distributed by the former PM to his cronies as a political bribe.
First Orange Line Metro train rolls out
"The country's population is increasing rapidly and availability of food is decreasing," he said. He added Pakistan was the only country in the world which hardly puts 1% of its agriculture income back into the fields. The PTI leader stated other countries out a major chunk of their income back to the sector. He stressed if the government does not pay attention to the agricultural sector and food security, the people of Pakistan will have to face a challenging situation in future.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2017.