The prime minister said this while addressing the launching ceremony of the National Aviation Policy 2015 on Friday. PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD:
Reiterating his stand of completing the Karachi operation, Nawaz Sharif has said he will soon visit the port city to personally monitor the progress made in the crackdown, which has significantly decreased kidnappings, killings, extortion and terrorism.
The prime minister said this while addressing the launching ceremony of the National Aviation Policy 2015 on Friday.
“Karachi will be made a crime-free city and the operation will continue to achieve the objective,” he said. “We are going ahead without being deterred by the incidents happening there. The crime rate of extortion and kidnapping is falling down in the city.”
Premier Sharif said the operation was launched with the consent of all political parties and the required resources would be provided to the law enforcement agencies to achieve the desired results. “The attraction of Karachi will be revived for investors and foreigners as well as the common man.”
The government, he added, was attending to the issue of Karachi regularly and he would again visit the city in the next few days to monitor the operation personally.
He reiterated that the Karachi issue had to be fixed come what may.
Sources in the federal government said the PM along with the military establishment had decided to accelerate the operation against MQM and other militant wings in political parties. Saulat Mirza’s statement and the government’s move to approach UK authorities on Altaf Hussain were just pressure tactics, as the government knew that Altaf being a UK citizen was not approachable, they said.
About the PM’s latest statement, the sources said the premier wanted to give a more serious and tough message to the people involved in disturbing the law and order in Karachi. They said the PM during his stay in Karachi would meet PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari as well to discuss the situation.
25-year plan
PM Sharif while addressing a delegation of PML-N lawmakers said the party was working on a 25-year vision to meet major challenges of energy, economy and terrorism in the country.
About the steps taken to curb terrorism, he said Operation Zarb-e-Azb had proved effective in dismantling the infrastructure and hideouts of terrorists who were now on the run. “I am sure soon the menace of terrorism will be eradicated from the country.”
Regarding the energy sector, Premier Sharif said the government was hopeful of adding around 10,000MW to the national power grid with 3,000MW planned to be imported from China and 3,600MW to be produced from LNG-based plants.
“This would be added to the national grid by 2017 so that PML-N may fulfil its promise of overcoming the energy shortage.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2015.
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