‘Caretaker set up is completely impartial’

Dr Askari says all depts will have to perform duties efficiently to ensure transparent elections

LAHORE: Punjab’s Caretaker Chief Minister Dr Hasan Askari has said that the caretaker set up is completely impartial and has no political agenda.

He was talking to caretaker Provincial Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Irrigation, Mines and Zakat and Ushr Anjum Nisar in a meeting on Friday.

Dr Askari said that holding of the general election in a transparent manner would be ensured by remaining impartial and performance of the government would be a clear proof of neutrality. “All departments concerned will have to perform their duties in an efficient and dutiful manner to ensure free, fair and transparent elections,” he added.

The caretaker chief minister observed that development of industrial sector on modern lines was pivotal to strengthening the national economy and added that issues like unemployment and poverty could be solved by promoting industry, trade and investment related opportunities. He said that all these sectors were crucial for the development of the country.



“The industrial sector plays an important role in the strengthening of the national economy along with the provision of employment opportunity to the youth and with the establishment of new industries, many more employment-related activities are generated which benefit the national economy in a number of ways,” he added.

Dr Askari said that steps should be initiated so that industrial sector could follow labour laws and give attention to water treatment and other rules and regulations. Implementation of relevant rules and regulations was the responsibility of the departments as well as the administrations concerned, he added. Similarly, implementation of environmental laws should also be ensured and agencies concerned should work with diligence and hard work, he added.

He said that trade and economic activities were increased due to investment in the country and new employment opportunities are created. He said that investment was also used to overcome issues like poverty and unemployment. He said that provision of conducive atmosphere to the investors was important to motivate the foreign investors. “If investors are provided with a suitable atmosphere for investment, the trend of investment will be boosted and national economy will be further strengthened,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2018.