Admitting that masses are going through a difficult time, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that his government would put the country on the path of sustained economic development and prosperity by taking bold measures according to the model of Riyasat-e-Madina Speaking at a ceremony to celebrate the 23rd Foundation Day of the party at Jinnah Convention Center, he said that State of Madina was a welfare and modern Islamic state and the government would develop the country by adopting that exemplary model.
The prime minister said the opposition parties were threatening to march onto capital to bring down the government, adding they just want to save themselves from money-laundering cases by knocking down the PTI government. He said that his government would not offer any NRO [national reconciliation ordinance] to PPP and the PML-N, adding that both the parties looted the country together due to which the country's debts soared to Rs30,000 billion.
Imran Khan said, "I am only answerable to Allah Almighty and I would not give NRO to anyone." He asked his political workers to be ready as "corrupts have united in the name of democracy" and want to topple the PTI government to conceal the looted money and to escape the ongoing accountability process. Khan said that the debts have jumped to Rs30,000 billion from Rs6000 billion during the tenures of PPP and PMLN.
He said when his party came into power there was a budget deficit of Rs1300 billion, the gas sector was facing a loss of Rs150 billion while circular debt was of Rs1200 billion in 2018. He blamed the previous governments for the country's woeful economic situation, and justified the increase in petroleum prices. "It is not as simple as they [opposition] describe it, as we needed to increase petrol prices when prices in international market go up."
He said people accuse PTI of increasing inflation everywhere. He gave examples of PML-N, PPP and accusations leveled against PTI by other parties. "There's no doubt that prices have gone up," he said, explaining the mechanism of how the rupee has depreciated. He said that PTI has done better than PML-N did in its first eight months. He said that a system ruins if the rulers are thieves, adding that a corrupt ruler ruins the country and nation, while sincere leaders change fate of their country. Nawaz Sharif has asked to travel abroad for treatment. "Isn't it then the right of every other prisoner to go abroad for treatment?" her questioned. In 'Naya Pakistan', everyone is equal before law, the premier said.
PM Imran said that former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif left Punjab with a debt of Rs1100 billion. "They have then the audacity to daily sit on TV with their weird faces and accuse PTI of bad governance."
The premier once again expressed his confidence in Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and said that time would prove he was the best choice for the post.
He said that it is a shame that when Nawaz came into power he made 11 new companies but didn't build a single quality hospital where he could have been treated today.
Citing the success stories of Malaysia and Singapore, he emphasised the importance of implementing the principles of the state of Madina in Pakistan.
"The governance structure of Madina is the system of a modern state. That became the foundation due to which Muslims ruled for the next 1,000 years.
"Pakistan is the only country that was built in the name of Islam and the purpose was to establish a welfare state. But we strayed from that path." The Prime Minister said that Ehsas Program will be an historical program of PTI-led government towards poverty alleviation. Announcing the 10- point agenda of his government, he said this is a comprehensive program regarding destitutes, widows, orphans, workers, labourers, farmers, jobless, homeless, aged and poor students of the country.
Khan said the government has already started an affordable housing program for shelter-less people of the country. He said the government is also committed to promoting tourism in the country as Pakistan is rich in tourism sector. The Prime Minister said that the government is also announcing local bodies system to devolve the power and new system will ensure the development of backward areas.
Khan said that steps are being taken to develop the agriculture sector with support of China as it is committed to supporting Pakistan. He said the PTI-led government has already started the health card scheme for poor segment of the country.
Khan said that his party came into power through its own performance rather than help from any army general. "No general Jilani brought the PTI up," he said. "I had nothing to gain from politics. I had everything a person can have - wealth, fame, respect. I could have spent my life just by commenting on cricket," he told the audience.
Call a slip tongue or whatever, the prime minister while referring to his sexist remarks against PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto, said: "Bilawal sahib, sometimes mistakes do happen". Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in his address at the event congratulated the prime minister and the party's founding members and workers who he said "took Imran Khan's message to every village and remote area".
Taking a jibe at the PTI's political rivals, he said: "Opposition parties ask 'is this the naya Pakistan?' I tell them that you ruined Pakistan for 40 years and you expect Imran Khan to fix it in eight months."
Comments
Comments are closed.