PM directs for maximum relief to masses during Ramadan: Firdous

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Saturday said Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed all the ministries concerned to provide maximum relief to the masses during the holy month of Ramadan.

Talking to media persons after a meeting chaired by the prime minister here at Bani Gala, she said different targets had been given to the ministries to control power load-shedding and price hike before the advent of Ramadan.

The prime minister, she added, had also directed to devise a joint strategy in collaboration with the provincial governments to curb the price hike.

The SAPM said the parliament and democracy could not flourish without the opposition, which should also come up with positive suggestions to resolve the public issues.

Dr Firdous Ashiq said the government was trying its best to take the opposition on board on all the decisions of national interest. If the opposition tried to hijack the parliament and construed the government’s policy of reconciliation as its weakness, it would beget the problems.

She said the prime minister had advised his newly appointed Advisor on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and his economic team to come upto the public expectations by addressing their hardships.

She said the meeting also discussed in detail the agenda of the prime minister’s upcoming visits to Iran and China on what the media would be apprised accordingly.

The SAPM said Imran Khan would visit Quetta on Sunday to inaugurate the Naya Pakistan Housing project, besides condoling with the bereaved families of those killed in the Hazarganji terror attack.

She said the prime minister had given additional charge of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources to Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan.

About the absence of Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain from the meeting, she said it was a meeting of spokespersons and Fawad could not attend it for being in Lahore.

To a question, Dr Firdous Ashiq said Asad Umar was an important player of the prime minister's team and he would be soon in action to defend his vision.

She said the government did not want any confrontation with the media people, and their welfare and prosperity was among its priorities.

Dr Firdous Ashiq said she was getting briefings about the problems faced by the media industry and assured for their resolution through negotiations.

She thanked the prime minister and the Pakistan Teheek-e-Insaf (PTI) for reposing confidence in her and made her partnership with media which always supported Imran Khan in his struggle against the bogus political system.