PML-N tried to divide media: PM

Premier raises questions over Maryam ‘running govt’s media cell’

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday maintained that the PML-N tried to create a division in the media.

“In what capacity was [PML-N Vice President] Maryam Nawaz running the government media cell?” he questioned while chairing a meeting of PTI leaders.

At a recent news conference, the PML-N leader had admitted that she was running the party’s media cell and had indeed ordered stopping advertisements to certain channels.

The premier observed that PML-N leaders called the members of the ruling party “fascists” while they themselves were more than that.

“They accuse us of trying to curb the media while they themselves stood exposed now,” he added.

The prime minister blamed the mafia for the flour and fertiliser crises, noting that the rates were highest in Karachi.

He also claimed that the Sindh government had not taken action against hoarders.

Sources said Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry briefed the premier on the progress of the committee formed to investigate Maryam’s admission as well as the action taken on the matter so far.

Separately while chairing a meeting to review the implementation of the Sindh Development Plan worth Rs444 billion, the prime minister said the uplift of 14 districts of the province was a priority.

He added that said the objective of the plan was to improve the socio-economic status of the residents of Sindh.

The prime minister directed the authorities concerned that priority must be given to less-developed and rural areas of the province to ensure prosperity.

He regretted that the previous governments had ignored the development of Sindh.

Read Body formed to probe Maryam's media cell admission

The prime minister directed the departments concerned to fast-track work on Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway and construction of sports complexes in Badin, Ghotki, Thar, Mirpurkhas, Tando Muhammad Khan, Hyderabad and Sanghar.

He also stressed the need for transparency, quality of work and adherence to timelines while implementing the plan.

The Sindh Development Plan includes projects related to roads and motorways, housing, information technology and telecom, water resources, health, higher education, vocational training, disaster management, railways, energy and establishment of sports facilities.

The participants of the meeting were informed that overall the Sindh Development Plan comprises 48 Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects, 50 non-PSDP ones and seven public-private partnership schemes.

The government has approved 26 new PSDP projects and allocated financial resources for fiscal year 2021-22.

An amount of Rs16.304 billion has been authorised by the Planning Commission for eight federal government divisions and organisations.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers Dr Fehmida Mirza, Asad Umar, Hammad Azhar and senior officials.

(With input from APP)