Anyone to create fuss in prevailing situation will be ill-wisher for Pakistan: Ahsan Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Dec 12 (SABAH): Federal Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry Monday stated that a person who will create fuss in the prevailing situation will be ill-wisher for Pakistan.
During an interview with a private TV channel, Ahsan Iqbal said that the drive commenced by former prime minister and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran should be exposed and let the people convey truth and added that the party has started preparation for the next general elections. He furthered Imran Khan’s narrative revolves around a single point that all others were thieves excluding him.
He further said that chairman PTI in his tenure as Prime Minister pushed all the political opponents against the wall and added all the retaliatory cases ended upon ending the tenure of Imran Khan. He said that narrative of Imran Khan regarding Daily Mail faced humiliation whereas till-today he did not go to British court against Financial Times.
Economy was facing shortfall across the world, Ahsan Iqbal noted, and added they received the economy of the country in a much dismal state. He stressed upon repairing the economy of the country during next 10 months, saying all those who will create mess during the prevailing situation will be ill-wishers of the country.
Ahsan Iqbal further said that members of PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did not support dissolution of the assembly where in Punjab there were administrative issues as no inspector general as well as chief secretary was ready to work there. “In Punjab, we are responsible for safeguard of system. We will use all Constitutional options as it is our responsibility,” he added.
Meanwhile Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal met lawmakers from the country’s 20 poorest districts and sought their input for execution of special development initiatives in their respective areas.
These districts include 11 districts from Balochistan including Sherani, Kohlu, Jhal Magsi, Barkhan, Killa Abdullah, Zhob, Musakhel, Dera Bugti, Jaffarabad, Ziarat and Killa Saifullah, five from Sindh; Sujawal, Thatta, Tharparkar, Kashmore and Badin, three from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa; Torghar, Shangla and North Waziristan and Rajanpur district from Punjab.
Many of these have been directly affected by the recent flood disaster and were identified by Planning Ministry for a 5-year (2022-27) project for special development initiatives at a cost of 40 billion rupees.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said the aim is to engage the lawmakers and get their input before execution of these projects to uplift the 20 backward and poor districts of the country.
Assuring them that he will personally visit each district, Ahsan Iqbal said the projects will eliminate the geographical disparity of development in the country.
He said in the first phase, education, health, energy and infrastructure will be focused on the basis of study conducted in each district to know the critical needs there.
During the meeting, the lawmakers appreciated the efforts of the ministry and shared their recommendations.
Meanwhile, the Minister also chaired a roundtable with the entrepreneurs and development experts from the 20 poorest districts to register their feedback on addressing inequality in Pakistan.
The Minister underscored the importance of intervention from local bodies and stakeholders to make an effective framework to address the issue at hand.