Polls to be held on time; people should ignore rumors: PM

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Friday said the general election would be held on time and people should ignore the rumors being spread out through media.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of Pakistan’s premier high-tech deep water container port here, the prime minister said the government was striving to ensure that free and fair elections were held to provide people a chance to express their opinion transparently.

The ceremony was also attended by Minister for Maritime Affairs Mir Hasil Bizenjo, Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail, Minister for IT Anusha Rehman and Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah.

The prime minister, who earlier inaugurated the facility by pressing the button, said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz never became part of any undemocratic initiative nor it would be in the future, believing that only the public representative government could address public issues.

He said the PML-N had introduced a model of politics focused at unprecedented public service and the future governments should follow the suit.

The prime minister also announced a bonus salary of the employees of the Karachi Port Trust and asked the ministry and other relevant authorities to ensure resolution of workers’ issues on priority.

He reiterated that the constitution had defined the limits of every institution to ensure smooth functioning of the state organs.

He said people would have to face the impact of their vote for next five years what he said was the lesson of democracy.

He said the Deep Port project was critical for Pakistan as it would help handle the shipments from Central Asia, China and Afghanistan.

He told the gathering that China Pakistan Economic Corridor was a visible part of Belt and Road Initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping aimed at regional connectivity.

He said Pakistan had constructed around 1800 kilometers long highways and 1700 kilometers long motorways to ensure regional connectivity to Pakistani ports particularly Gwadar Port.