Pakistan

Despite war rhetoric by India, PM calls for trade

Gives Punjab, K-P 48 hours to finalise new local government system

Imran Adnan September 24, 2018

Prime Minister Imran Khan. PHOTO: GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN

LAHORE: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that Pakistan's quest for better relations with India should not be construed as weakness because the objective behind this pursuit is to bring people of the subcontinent out of poverty by starting trade activity.

"They have some misunderstanding. When we want friendship, it means we desire to end poverty in the subcontinent. Trade will also revive. Someone should not misunderstand it. This should not be construed as weakness," the prime minister said on Sunday while addressing the government servants.

He said the people of this country never succumbed to any pressure from any super power. “If they hurl any threat, the whole nation stands united to face till the end,” he resolved.

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The prime minister said Pakistan's desire for friendship was not merely in the interest of Pakistan but both the countries and viewed that arrogant attitude of the Indian leadership would come to end to improve the situation.

“This is a unique government in the country’s history that has a commitment to give freedom to government officials,” he said, adding, “There will be no political pressure on government servants but the government would not spare if any official dared to bring his departmental issue in public.”

He told the civil servants that the country was passing through a tough time. “It never happened in the country’s history that Pakistan has record fiscal and trade deficit.”

“Earlier, we believe that the country is under Rs28,000 billion debt but now we have come to know that the country has Rs30,000 billion debt,” he said.

Pakistan will not tolerate any act of hostility: PM Imran

“In the power sector alone, the country is under circular debt of Rs1,200 billion; in natural gas, the country is under a debt of Rs125 billion,” he said, adding, “Pakistan International Airlines, Pakistan Steel Mills, Utility Stores Corporation and other public sector organisations are under heavy debt.”

“We can follow governance examples adopted by the Shaukat Khanam Hospital and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police.”

He said K-P IG had introduced depoliticised police department and merit that resulted in improved services,” he pointed out and said that helped the K-P government defeat crime and curb terrorism.

Imran asked civil servants to serve masses, open your doors for poor and protect the weak.

Responding to Indian stubbornness, the prime minister said, “Pakistan will not accept any act of hostility.”

“No one should mistake the country’s wish for peace as a sign of weakness,” he adds.

The prime minister said, “Pakistan wants better relations with India so that economic conditions of the two countries improve.”

“I wish the Indian leadership would quit its arrogance. Cordial relations between Pakistan and India will help eliminate poverty. Friendship is in favour of both the countries,” he maintained.

The prime minister also reviewed progress on 100-day plan of the PTI government. Several ministers briefed the prime minister about progress of their departments. Imran Khan also reviewed party preparation for upcoming bye-elections.

Meanwhile, the prime minister Imran Khan gave a 48-hour deadline to Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) governments to finalise drafts of new local governments.

“The most important agenda of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is to empower citizens by delegating powers to local government institutions, underscored the prime minister while chairing a meeting of the Punjab cabinet in the provincial capital.

Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, K-P Governor Shah Farman, members of the Punjab cabinet, senior PTI leaders and officials attended the meeting.

The meeting reviewed the draft proposal prepared by the federal government as earlier Punjab Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan had presented a draft proposal to the prime minister in Islamabad on September 15 which was turned down by the prime minister, asking Aleem Khan to come up with some viable local government system for Punjab.

The prime minister also ordered constitution of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe into the causes of fire incidents in government offices, especially fire incident of the LDA Complex in which the record of major development projects of Punjab was allegedly burnt.

During the Lahore visit, prime minister also addressed civil servants and assured them that there would be no political interference in the administrative and professional affairs.

With additional input from APP

COMMENTS (2)

Omar | 5 years ago | Reply It is time IK realised diplomacy is not done by calling neighbouring country's PM as small man. It simply is not done. He has burned the bridge. At least for the near future. In such a scenario calling for trade is not going to work. For a big economy like India not doing business with Pakistan will not hurt, but for Pakistan, it may benefit. But India has to feel the peace in border areas to think of any talks which can then lead to many, many things. But will the powers that be allow?

true | 5 years ago | Reply Someone tell the learned author that refusing to talk doesn't tantamount to war rhetoric.... If he is referring to recent LoC violations that's a normal thing that happens every now and them....

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