Current govt will bring political stability in the country: Marriyum Aurangzeb

ISLAMABAD, June 01 (SABAH): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb says prices of essential commodities have significantly reduced due to prudent policies of the government. She said that the current government will bring political stability in the country. She challenged the opponents to sit with her and present the comparison of 10 years performance of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkwha governments with federal government’s projects. She said that the current government has paid back $15.3 billion foreign and Rs3513 billion internal loans during the last one year. She said that we have saved the state while putting out politics at stake, adding that the state and its progress is more important then our politics.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday, Marriyum Aurangzeb said the government is determined to control inflation and Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is himself monitoring the relief measures so that their benefit reaches the common man.

The Minister said price of flour has decreased by 35-40 rupees per kg, cooking oil by 60-70 rupees, LPG cylinder for domestic consumers has been reduced by 438 rupees from 2759 to 2321 rupees while commercial LPG cylinders price slashed by 1686 rupees from 10619 to 8, 933. She said that PM Shehbaz Sharif has strictly directed the district administration to ensure the benefit of the decrease in prices of oil, flour and LPG Sylinders to the masses directly, adding that PM Shehbaz Sharif is personally monitoring this.   

She said strict punitive action is being taken against people who are involved in hoarding or artificial price hike.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said the coalition government inherited a tattered economy but one year of our relentless efforts are yielding results as economic indicators have started an upward trajectory. She said today dollar prices slashed by 27 rupees.

She said the agriculture policy institute has been revived and work on seed variation is underway on immediate basis for making the country self-reliant in cooking oil production.

She said political and economic stability of the country is the topmost priority of the coalition government.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said the Prime Minister has started consultations on upcoming budget proposals for various sectors including agriculture and industry.

She said Kamyab Jawan Program, Benazir Income support program have been revived to impart maximum benefit to the beneficiaries of these program.

The Minister said farmers have been provided relief under the historic Kisaan Package and subsidies on fertilizers, and solarization of agriculture tubewells will be part of the upcoming budget proposals for agriculture sector.  She said healthcard budget will also be increased this year.

Marriyum Aurangzeb lamented how the IMF program was suspended by the previous government but today we are trying to fulfill even the most difficult conditions of the IMF to complete the program.

The Minister said as political panic dives down, economic panic also wanes. She said while the PML-N led coalition government tried every bit during the last one year to revive the economy, the mindset of hatred , polarization and violence continued to impede our way by violent protests, sit-ins and attacking national institutions and memorials of national heroes.

Answering a question regarding the delay in the salaries and pensions of Radio Pakistan’s employees, the Minister said their salaries and pensions are being paid through supplementary grants. She said the Economic Coordination Committee of the cabinet has already approved a supplementary grant for the salaries and pensions of the Radio Pakistan’s employees. She said the government is working on a business plan to make the state broadcaster financially self-sufficient and a profit-making entity.

Regarding the lags in the pensions and commutations of Radio Pakistan’s retired employees, Marriyum Aurangzeb said that payments of these amounts will be ensured through sufficient allocation of funds in the budget.