Agriculture, livestock: PM brings Punjab’s ‘immense’ potential under sharper focus

SAHIWAL: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said Pakistan would be turned into “an industrial estate and an agro-based economy” to ensure sustainable development and prosperity. Addressing at a ceremony of cheque-distribution under Ehsaas Programme and tractors under Kamyab Jawan Programme, the PM said the government is collaborating with China in learning agriculture techniques under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Prime Minister said Punjab has “immense” development potential in agriculture and livestock sectors.

Imran Khan also announced that every resident of Punjab will get health insurance by the end of December 2021. The PM said that Pakistan is going to become an Islamic welfare state, adding that even in richer countries, people don’t have universal health coverage. He announced that the people of Sahiwal will also get Rs 750,000 health insurance.

He said that every government must have plans such as Ehsaas and Kamyab Jawan Programme in order to provide maximum relief to the poor people. He said the federal government has distributed Rs 180 billion funds under Ehsaas Programme in a transparent way.

“Not a single complaint came forth regarding any kind of political discrimination in fund distribution. The largest portion of the funds has been distributed in Sindh where Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is in government,” said PM Khan, adding that the welfare programmes like Ehsaas can only be successful if there are insulated against political interference. He said that after providing medical facilities to the common people, his government has to pay special attention to education. “We have to improve the education standards in government schools and we have decided to make a uniform curriculum for Pakistan, he added.”

“Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is going to introduce a new local government system in which the powers will be transferred to the grassroots level. Local government elections will be held this year and under the new local government system, people will get their issues resolved while staying at their homes, he said”