IMF is a bitter pill to swallow, says Firdous

PM’s adviser says govt taking measures to provide long term relief to people

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package is a bitter pill to swallow in order to ensure long term relief for people.

“Tough and challenging decisions are needed to bring the country out of difficult times and uplift the people by resolving their problems,” Dr Awan said on Monday while addressing a national literary seminar held in connection with the Urs of Hazrat Laal Shahbaz Qalandar.

She said the media is full of news on IMF programme these days while the opposition is also quoting the IMF package for criticising the government. However, no government can thrive as long as it does not take into account welfare of the people in its policies.

“The IMF arrangement is also part of a measure for public relief.  Even doctors prescribe bitter pills if the condition of the patient is serious. The IMF is also like a bitter pill which the government had to take. However, the bitter pill is being swallowed to provide long term relief to the people,” she said.

She said the extremist and terrorist mindset is the biggest challenge the country faces. The current government is busy in treating the cancer of extremism and terrorism. “It was about time we eradicated these evils from their roots,” she added.

The adviser said political forces of Pakistan reached consensus on the National Action Plan (NAP) but it could not be implemented. “Our government has taken effective measures to ensure implementation of NAP. Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken difficult decisions in this regard and the long term impacts of these decisions will soon be noticed,” she said.

Dr Awan, who acts as de facto information minister, said Hazrat Laal Shahbaz Qalandar was a great Sufi saint. The Sufis propagated Islam through their kind acts not through sword.  She said we need to spread teachings of Sufi saints and do more research on their works.

“We need to return to the path exhibited by our Sufis as we have deviated from it. Sufism teaches us welfare of the humanity. Prime Minister Imran Khan has recently inaugurated Al-Qadir University to ensure that this lesson is disseminated,” the adviser said.