PM rules out special treatment for Punjab

Takes jibe at those who ‘tried to sabotage Kissan Package’

GILGIT/ FAISALABAD:

Amid scathing and unrelenting criticism from his political rival, especially Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif dismissed claims on Tuesday that the federal government was giving a preferential treatment to its political powerhouse, Punjab.

“Our government is working to change the socioeconomic conditions of the downtrodden, irrespective of their political affiliations,” he said while addressing a ceremony at Mai Heer Stadium in Jhang. At the ceremony, cash handouts were given to farmers through the multibillion-rupee Kissan Relief Package ahead of the third phase of the local government polls in Jhang.



He said the ‘unprecedented’ Rs341 billion package would benefit over 1.2 million farmers across the country. “So-called well-wishers of growers did their best to sabotage the Kissan Package.  But my government immediately moved the Supreme Court to get it restored because we sincerely want to help farmers,” he said.



The premier was referring to his political arch-nemesis PTI which had challenged the Kissan package in the Election Commission of Pakistan, claiming that it was a ploy by the ruling party to influence the LG elections in Sindh and Punjab. Implementation on the package was stayed which was subsequently vacated by the Supreme Court.

The prime minister said his government would bring qualitative and quantitative changes in the country’s socioeconomic conditions by pursuing people-friendly policies. He specially referred to the continuing decrease in the price of petroleum products in line with the slump in prices on the global market.



He said the ruling party had set a new political tradition by respecting the mandate of other parties and inviting them to form governments in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan after the 2013 general elections. He reiterated his oft-repeated claim of banishing the chronic power crisis from the country by the end of his government’s five-year tenure.

G-B governor’s swearing-in

Premier Nawaz Sharif also made a whirlwind visit to Gilgit-Baltistan where he attended the oath-taking ceremony of the region’s new governor, Mir Ghazanfar Ali, in the historic Chinar Bagh. Ali has replaced Barjees Tahir.

Speaking at the swearing-in, the premier said G-B had an immense tourism potential, and his government would tap this potential by improving access to the far-flung areas and constructing runways in Gilgit and Skardu towns to allow landing of big aircraft.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2015.