Federal Minister for Planning Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday talked about the importance of continuity of policies and political stability as a pre-requisite for development and prosperity and emphasised the need for waging collective efforts in that direction. The federal minister speaking with the media and addressing an opening ceremony of the University of Lahore's Young Development Corps said, "All of us have learned from past mistakes and recognised the supremacy of democracy."
About incessant power-outage nuisance, the minister attempted to soothe power sceptics. "Its duration has reduced to six to eight hours and this problem will be eliminated within this government's era. Work on the Diamir Bhasha Dam will also start this year and also on different electricity generation projects," he claimed. In response to a question about the possible presence of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, alternatively translated as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, the minister said, "There is no organised network of Da'ish in Pakistan.
This organisation has taken roots in those countries where there is no democracy. We have national as well as democratic institutions and people of Pakistan dislike extremism. Pakistan has consistently supported all regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and extremism." When asked about a string of allegations of rigging in elections, he said it was impossible for anyone to take over elections as all institutions were independent.
About the national carrier, he said, "It is our policy to revive national institutions. The Pakistan International Airlines aircraft fleet has been increased and we want to improve the services to make it world's best air lines." On the economy, he claimed, "International financial institutions are acknowledging Pakistan's economic turnaround, which is a proof of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led government's prudent policies. The year 2016 is altogether different and much better as compared to situation in the year 2013.
"We all are responsible for non-continuity of policies here but positive thing is that we all have learnt lesson from past mistakes. There will be no compromise on stability and peace of the country." About the Young Development Corps, the minister claimed it was formed to take the youth on board for development of the country and under it youth of different educational institutions would compete with each other in different events which would arrange to improve the country's image.