New ‘criteria to judge ministries’ performance’ in the making

Move comes days after PM rewarded top 10 best ministries

MULTAN:

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that a new criteria to judge the performance of a ministry is being put in place.

The minister, who is also the vice president of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, on Monday aired the comments days after Prime Minister Imran Khan rewarded top 10 ministries on the basis of their performance.

However, some federal cabinet members, including Qureshi, expressed reservations for being overlooked.

“New standards have been set in place to evaluate a ministry’s performance,” Qureshi said while talking to the media.

The prime minister has praised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs many times, Qureshi added.

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He said the role played by the Foreign Office in evacuating the people trapped in Afghanistan was being appreciated by the whole world. “The United States has also acknowledged Pakistan's role in this regard.”

The list of top 10 performing ministries announced on Thursday last week had created bitterness within the party ranks after many frontline ministries did not make it in the top 10.

Some of the ministries, including foreign affairs, finance, information technology, housing, information and environment, felt left out.

In fact, the foreign minister even wrote a letter to Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Establishment Arbab Shahzad, expressing serious reservations over placing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 11th spot.

The criteria on which the top 10 ministries were judged and a subsequent report presented to the prime minister were prepared by Shahzad.

On the issue of the no-confidence motion, the minister said the opposition was faced with a division within its ranks and the incumbent government was fully prepared to combat their move. "To present a no-confidence motion is the prerogative of the opposition and we will fight it politically."

The divided opposition, he said, will be defeated and there were two factions in the PML-N as well. Qureshi said that the PPP did not want early elections but the PML-N was insisting otherwise.

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On the recent visit of the prime minister to China, he said the visit remained highly successful and the European Union has also invited him.

The Foreign Minister said that the foreign ministers of all Muslim countries would also participate in the national parade ceremony to be held on March 23.

To another question about the tragic incident in Tulamba, Qureshi said that the incident of a mob lynching a person to death in Tulamba was reprehensible.

Answering a question regarding PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, he said, "Make preparations Bilawal son. I am coming to Larkana. I will answer your questions there."

Qureshi said the PTI would protect the rights of Sindh. "I will lead the long march on February 26."

The minister questioned where was the narrative of the PML N as it was contacting the PTI allies against their own claims?

“They won no favour from the Chaudhry brothers for the no-confidence vote,” he added.

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To another question, Qureshi observed that farmers were availing higher prices against their produce.

About local bodies’ elections he said, PTI will be victorious in them and prime minister himself would nominate candidates.

About PTI's success in Dera Ismail Khan, Qureshi stated that it was a hint for Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

To another question regarding south Punjab, he said that the fund of south Punjab would be spent locally and no one could transfer it to other parts of the province.

The foreign minister also hailed the courage of Indian Muslim girl Muskan Khan, saying that the incident exposed the true face of India before the world.