Some forces don’t want to see Pakistan flourish: FM

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was striving hard to strengthen the national economy, but some forces did not want to see Pakistan flourish.

“India wants to destabilise Pakistan by creating unrest on its soil, however, Pakistan has exposed the enemy country's nefarious designs at important international forums,” the foreign minister said while addressing a ceremony after laying the foundation stone of Madni Chowk Flyover.

Citing the report of Disinfo Lab of European Union, the foreign minister said India was running fake websites and non-governmental organisations to defame Pakistan through baseless propaganda.

Condemning the killing of 11 miners in Balochistan, Qureshi said the elements behind such incidents did not wish the country to move forward on the path of progress and development. “They are not the supporters of Pakistan, and the government will not only expose them but also defeat them.”

Qureshi said the PTI government was fully focused on the economic turnaround. “Today, the textile and powerloom sector is working at full capacity. Two years ago, all the powerlooms had shut down. Now, Pakistan is receiving huge export orders and the textile city of Faisalabad is facing shortage of labour,” he said, crediting the business-friendly policies of the PTI government for the success.

“A strong economy is of vital importance to address the issue of unemployment and poverty alleviation,” he said.

On Madni Chowk Flyover, Qureshi said the flyover's construction was a longstanding demand of the local people. “The project will be completed within a year at a cost of over Rs416 million and will help flourish business activities upon completion.”

The minister said the PTI government had constructed the Surij-Kund and Sui Gas roads. The people had been demanding the building of two roads for last 30 years.

He said sewerage and clean water were two major issues in the city and he would get more funds earmarked from Prime Minister Imran Khan for the city's uplift.

The people of Multan district had gifted all six seats of the National Assembly to the PTI, he stated. Qureshi said Multan was one of the important cities of South Punjab. The South Punjab Secretariat was established in the city after amendment in the rules of businesses.

The PTI government had laid the foundation for establishment of South Punjab province and no one could reverse the important steps in that regard in the future.

PTI's chief whip in the National Assembly and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Malik Aamir Dogar, in his speech, thanked the foreign minister for the construction of Madni Chowk Flyover. app