We don’t want a nation of beggars, says Faisal Vawda
Minister says schemes should offer more than just handouts
Those who looted Pakistan for the last 40 years are now telling us how to run it, says water resources minister. PHOTO: PPI/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda has said that the government is initiating welfare initiatives that use people’s skills through their engagement in production instead of making them dependent on handouts, in a criticism at the Pakistan People’s Party initiated Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan delivered another riposte at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), accusing its leadership of “pretending to be the vanguard of democracy in order to deflect attention from its corruption woes”.
“We do not need to turn Pakistan into a nation of beggars. Projects should offer people more than just handouts,” said Vawda while speaking at a fundraiser in the provincial capital.
He also addressed speculation regarding the transparency of funds being collected for the Mohmand and Diamer-Bhasha dams. “The account of the dam fund is not under the control of my ministry. These funds go to the specified account for the dam through cross cheques,” he said.
He also criticised previous regimes over their failure to carry out infrastructure and development. “Mohmand and Diamer-Bhasha dams should have been completed fifty years ago,” he said, adding that the current Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government inherited an ocean of problems from the previous government.
Speaking about the BISP, he said: "The BISP is a good initiative but many people benefitting from the program continue to seek funds looking nowhere else. We want to introduce a program from which one is able to pay cheques and not just receive them."
At the same ceremony, SAPM Awan said that the opposition was trying to negate the government’s efforts to strengthen Pakistan, and causing instability due to it.
“Yesterday, a bunch of incompetent politicians banded together against Imran Khan,” she said about Sunday’s All Parties Conference in which opposition parties decided to join hands to chalk out a united strategy to put pressure on the government.
“Today, a woman (Maryam Nawaz) who has been disqualified by the court has presided over the meeting at the parliament. What was the purpose of the meeting and why was an ineligible person allowed to preside over the session?” Dr Awan asked, adding that Mariyum Nawaz introduced the narrative of ‘give respect to vote’ at the behest of the former prime minster.
“The idea of giving respect to the vote could be seen in the fact that Imran Khan was made the prime minister through support from the whole of Pakistan,” she added.
Awan also took a swipe at PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, for extending his “quick trip” to London and “trying to make up health issues to stay away from the country”.
“Their real motive is not about respect for vote but giving respect to corruption. They are thinking how to save their corruption. Now the people of Pakistan are aware of their faces and their policies which have devastated the country,” Awan said. She also suggested there was a rift between the two Sharif brothers on the issue.
Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda has said that the government is initiating welfare initiatives that use people’s skills through their engagement in production instead of making them dependent on handouts, in a criticism at the Pakistan People’s Party initiated Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan delivered another riposte at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), accusing its leadership of “pretending to be the vanguard of democracy in order to deflect attention from its corruption woes”.
“We do not need to turn Pakistan into a nation of beggars. Projects should offer people more than just handouts,” said Vawda while speaking at a fundraiser in the provincial capital.
He also addressed speculation regarding the transparency of funds being collected for the Mohmand and Diamer-Bhasha dams. “The account of the dam fund is not under the control of my ministry. These funds go to the specified account for the dam through cross cheques,” he said.
He also criticised previous regimes over their failure to carry out infrastructure and development. “Mohmand and Diamer-Bhasha dams should have been completed fifty years ago,” he said, adding that the current Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government inherited an ocean of problems from the previous government.
Speaking about the BISP, he said: "The BISP is a good initiative but many people benefitting from the program continue to seek funds looking nowhere else. We want to introduce a program from which one is able to pay cheques and not just receive them."
At the same ceremony, SAPM Awan said that the opposition was trying to negate the government’s efforts to strengthen Pakistan, and causing instability due to it.
“Yesterday, a bunch of incompetent politicians banded together against Imran Khan,” she said about Sunday’s All Parties Conference in which opposition parties decided to join hands to chalk out a united strategy to put pressure on the government.
“Today, a woman (Maryam Nawaz) who has been disqualified by the court has presided over the meeting at the parliament. What was the purpose of the meeting and why was an ineligible person allowed to preside over the session?” Dr Awan asked, adding that Mariyum Nawaz introduced the narrative of ‘give respect to vote’ at the behest of the former prime minster.
“The idea of giving respect to the vote could be seen in the fact that Imran Khan was made the prime minister through support from the whole of Pakistan,” she added.
Awan also took a swipe at PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, for extending his “quick trip” to London and “trying to make up health issues to stay away from the country”.
“Their real motive is not about respect for vote but giving respect to corruption. They are thinking how to save their corruption. Now the people of Pakistan are aware of their faces and their policies which have devastated the country,” Awan said. She also suggested there was a rift between the two Sharif brothers on the issue.