Imran Khan assures all-out support to NAB

PM says improving power sector, trade among top priorities

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday expressed satisfaction over the National Accountability Bureau’s performance, saying elimination of corruption and accountability is the foremost priority of the incumbent government.

He expressed the views during his meeting with NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal who called on him.

According to a statement issued by the PM Office, the prime minister assured his government’s all-out support to the NAB chief, adding his government would fully support and strengthen the bureau to ensure elimination of corruption.

“The PTI government would ensure accountability of all corrupt elements without any discrimination,” said the prime minister. On the occasion, the NAB chairman congratulated Imran on assuming office of the prime minister.



Meanwhile, former PTV managing director Yousaf Baig Mirza also called on the Prime Minister in Islamabad and discussed issues related to the media at length.

Power sector

Later, the prime minister chaired a briefing at his office on issues relating to the power sector.

Secretary Power Division Rizwan Memon briefed Imran about the issue of line losses and circular debt which has touched Rs1.18 trillion. Memon also highlighted various issues relating to generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.

PM Imran expressed serious concerns over the prevailing situation vis-à-vis power theft and swelling circular debt. He observed that bad governance, corruption and flawed policies of past had resulted into a situation which was neither viable nor sustainable.

“Addressing issues related to the power sector was among the foremost priorities of the government,” said the prime minister adding that a task force was being constituted to work out a comprehensive strategy with special focus on improved governance, system augmentation, tariff rationalisation and plugging various loopholes in power generation, transmission and the distribution system.

Commerce

Meanwhile, the prime minister also chaired a briefing about functions of Ministry of Commerce at Prime Minister’s Office. Advisor to PM on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood was also present during the briefing.

Secretary Commerce Muhammad Younas Dagha made a detailed presentation about the functions of the ministry and its attached departments.

While briefing Imran about the current situation of imports and exports of the country, Dagha also proposed policy initiatives and various short-term and medium-to-long term measures aimed at promoting trade activities and realising export potential of the country.



The Prime Minister in his remarks said that promoting trade and facilitating business community, especially the overseas Pakistanis who wanted to invest in various conventional and non-conventional sectors of the economy, was among the priority areas for the government.

Discussing the role of trade officers abroad towards enhancement of country’s trade, the PM observed there was a need to review the criteria of appointment and assessing performance of trade officers so as to ensure the business community is properly facilitated, investment potential of the country is highlighted and the trade targets are achieved.

The Prime Minister also directed that a comprehensive strategy should be worked out to check corrupt practices of illegal money transfers (hundi) and smuggling which were negatively affecting the country’s economy.