ISLAMABAD: Minster for information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz said on Tuesday that a comprehensive programme has been prepared by the federal government in consultation with the Sindh government to solve the problems of Karachi.
Speaking at a news conference after a cabinet meeting presided over by the Prime Minister earlier, Shibli Faraz said a compressive strategy on the implementation of the projects has been finalized whose details would be announced by the Prime Minister Imran Khan himself at Karachi on Friday.
He said that Sindh government and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) have been taken on board in preparation of package as the Prime Minister's concern and focus is Karachi city right now. About the appointment of administrator of Karachi, the minister said that some names have been suggested by both federal and Sindh governments but a final decision to this effect would be taken by the Sindh government as it is in power in the province. He, however, refused to disclose the names, saying this would lead to an unnecessary controversy.
The minister said all the indicators of the economy are in positive zones and as opposed to Indian and other European economies whose growth is in negative Pakistan's is still in positive territory.
The minister said the prime minister has also instructed his adviser on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and in-charge of poverty alleviation and social safety Dr Sania Nishtar to start funding of the second phase of the Ehsaas programme.
The minister said that the federal cabinet was also given a briefing on situation rains in Balochistan and flooding in rural Sindh in the wake of a breach in a bund and added that the federal government has been in touch with Chief Ministers of Sindh and Balochistan.
He said whether liberal or conservative everyone believes that India is Pakistan's enemy and does not miss any opportunity to harm Pakistan but it would never succeed in its nefarious designs. On the issue of FATF, he said the opposition has to decide whether it wanted to support India or Pakistan.
To a question about Nawaz Sharif, he said there is court order against him, adding that as he remained thrice the Prime Minister, he must submit himself before the court. He said that there is confusion grouping within Pakistan Muslim League (N). No one should be above the law, he added. The minister evaded a question regarding Bhang (cannabis) declaring legal by the federal cabinet.
APP adds: The minister said people of Karachi were passing through a difficult time and all our sympathies were with them, adding Karachi is a "unique" city and an economic hub of the country.
There was a time when Karachi was filled with garbage but the PTI representatives got the city cleared, he said.
He said shortage of water supply, tanker mafia and sewerage and solid waste management were serious issues in the provincial capital.
The federal government accepted the mandate of the Sindh government and would work in coordination with it and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to solve problems of the city, he assured.
To a question about recent statement of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, he said Pakistan Muslim League (N) during its years in power mistreated the woman leaders of Pakistan People's Party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and other parties and "its leaders should know about their party's history".
To a query, he said Chairman China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Asim Saleem Bajwa attended the cabinet meeting and would explain his position on the news about him in the next few days.
Shibli said CPEC was an important project for people of Pakistan and it was not the personal project of PML-N, that adding on the project, China worked with Pakistan and not with a political party.
The minister said there were conspiracies against the CPEC project by the enemies of Pakistan.
The minister said media persons were facing difficult times after losing jobs and assured that the government was working for their welfare and job protection.
The government paid to news organizations more than Rs 1 billion so that they could pay salaries to their employees, he added. The minister said the government bore a burden of Rs 17 billion by not passing the impact of petroleum products' prices to people.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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