Vehari show: End poverty, corruption like China, says PTI chief

Asks govt to pay special attention to small sector farmers

VEHARI:

Pakistan Tehreek-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan advised the government on Saturday to takes lessons from China on how to rid itself of poverty and corruption.

“Despite only seeking loans, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) should learn from China on ways to end poverty from Pakistan,” he told farmers at a convention in Vehari district.

China had first eradicated poverty and corruption from its country through proper planning and policy, he said. In contrast, the ruling party is injecting poverty and corruption into the country through its ill conceived policies, he added.

Emphasising on the importance of the agriculture sector, the PTI chief said, “No country in Asia has ever become successful only relying on industrial policy and ignoring the agriculture sector.”

People are living in a fool’s paradise if they are constructing an economy only on the industrial pillars without getting agricultural support, he said adding that and this economy will be nothing but a bubble of water, just as the economy was under the rule of former military General Musharraf.

Hinting out at Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for pursuing mango diplomacy with his Indian counterpart last month, Imran said, “Instead of sending mango boxes to India, out leadership should discuss real problems of water because the future of water supply to the agriculture sector will ensure a prosperous future of Pakistan.”

He said that India is afraid of farmers whether they are in its own country or in Pakistan, he said adding that because New Delhi knows that economy of the all regional countries depend only on the agricultural economy but for our government “farmers do not matter much”.

The PTI chairman asked farmers to show their power through vote. “Corrupt politicians are always afraid of vote power and unless you people will use your ballot power, you will be crushed in the same manner as the government is victimising small sector farmers today.”

He said that a bag of fertiliser costs just Rs950 in India, however, in Pakistan it is Rs4,000. “The government puts no checks on mafia who are involved in hoarding fertilisers and also selling them as substandard.”

“If I will come to power,” the PTI chief claimed, “I will first devise policies for the small sector farmers and will take personal advice from them before making policies. “Every district will have their own cotton and agricultural research institute to help and guide farmers.”


Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2015.