PM prefers national interest over personal goals by changing portfolios of ministers

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Friday said it was first time in the history of Pakistan that a prime minister had preferred national interest over personal interest by changing the portfolios of ministers and removing some others.

Talking to a private news channel, she said Prime Minister Imran Khan was ready to take any step to meet the current challenges being faced by the country.

Rejecting rumors about any grouping in the party, she said there was democracy in the party and everyone's opinion was sought during cabinet meeting, adding difference of opinion exists everywhere and it was the beauty of democracy.

Changing or replacing cabinet members was not a new thing as Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had also done the same in their tenures, she added.

It was the prerogative of the prime minister to give responsibility to anyone he deemed fit for the job, she mentioned.

Awan said the reshuffling of ministers was done on the basis of performance.

“I am grateful to PM Imran Khan for reposing trust in me and will try my level best to fulfill all the responsibilities given to me,” she stated.

Firdous said she believed in team work and would take along all the stakeholders to run the affairs of her portfolio.

She said strong relations would be established with media and attached departments of information ministry and media would be given its due rights.

Responding to a question regarding the removal of Asad Umar as finance minister, the PTI leader said Asad Umar was a capable man but due to the current economic situation, it was necessary to bring someone who had strong personal relationing at international level.

The prime minister had clearly declared that those who would not perform well in their respective ministries would be sent home, she said.

Firdous said in past both the major political parties even president Musharaf had taken the service of technocrats to boost the economy.