PM Imran Khan announces 15% increase in salaries of Frontier Corps & Rangers personnel
NUSHKI:, Feb 08 (SABAH): Prime Minister Imran Khan, while paying tribute to the troops who foiled attacks on security installations in Balochistan, said no acts of terror can deter the Pakistani nation from moving forward as it was very strong and resilient. Imran Khan also announced a raise of 15 percent for the officers and men of the Frontier Corps and Rangers. He said that the whole nation is standing with the personnel of security personnel fighting against the terrorism. He said that the whole Pakistan nation has confidence that any sort of terrorism could not succeed in Pakistan.
Addressing officers and jawans of the Frontier Corps and Pakistan Rangers in Nushki on Tuesday, the prime minister vowed to give a befitting response to the terrorists who were trying to hamper the pace of progress, particularly in Balochistan.
Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Federal Ministers Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Fawad Chaudhry, Advisor to PM on National Security Dr. Moeed Wasim Yusuf, Governor Balochistan Syed Zahoodr Ahmed Agha, Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddis Bizenjo, Deputy Speaker National Assembly Asim Khan Soori, Corps Commander Southern Command Lieutenant General Sarfaraz Ali and senior commanders were also present on the occasion.
The prime minister’s visit comes days after the armed forces thwarted attacks by militant outfits in Nuskhi, Panjgur and Kech. According to the media wing of the Pakistan Army, at least 20 terrorists were killed in the operation at Nushki and Panjgur.
PM Imran Khan said no other army had faced unprecedented challenges due to acts of terrorism, in the wake of the war in Afghanistan. He said the Pakistan army excelled in its professionalism and helped in ridding Pakistan of terrorism.
The prime minister said he was shocked to hear about the terrorist attacks in Balochistan and wanted to stand along with his troops who were waging a “jihad against the terrorists”.
“Not only me, but the whole nation stands with our jawans.” The prime minister said. He said all those who sacrifice their lives have a “special place in heaven and pointed out that the martyrs have the second-highest place after prophets”.
The prime minister said the entire nation had a firm belief in the capability of their forces to thwart any threat of terrorism. “The entire nation has the confidence that terrorists cannot cause any harm to the country,” he maintained.
The prime minister said the present government was spending huge funds on the uplift of Balochistan province, undertaking a number of mega development projects which had never been undertaken by any government in the past.
Mentioning the construction of the Chaman-Quetta and Karachi Highway as the ‘biggest project’ to transform the lives of the people and conditions of the province, the prime minister said the government had already allocated funds for the project.
The PM resolved that more funds would be allocated for the development of the province in the future as the government was fully focused on the alleviation of the backwardness of certain areas, including K-P’s tribal districts and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The PM said the government was determined to bring an extensive development in the coming days that no outside power would succeed in misguiding the people to destabilise the country.
He further said that during his recent visit to China, President Xi Jinping had assured him that the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would benefit Balochistan the most. He added that technology transfer, information technology and industrialisation would be covered under the next phase of CPEC.
Moreover, the premier said, China was also fully supporting Pakistan in the agriculture sector. And “if we manage to increase our output even by half of the current production, we will be exporting agriculture produce,” he said.
The next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would hugely benefit the people of Balochistan as it would bring industrialisation, materialise the establishment of special economic zones (SEZs), and transfer technology in the agriculture sector to help boost the country’s productivity.
Referring to the global price hike, the prime minister said it had affected all the countries of the world, even the strong economies like the US and UK had been experiencing the highest inflation after 40 years. “I do realise that the salaried class is facing difficulties and I assure you that we want to [improve] the economic situation so that we are able to further increase people’s salaries,” he said, adding that however, the government was helpless in some aspects.
For instance, he said, there had been an increase in fuel prices internationally. “And Pakistan imports it. So what can we do in Pakistan” if the prices increased globally, he added.
PM Imran Khan then again gave the assurance that his government would increase salaries with the increase in revenues. In this regard, he also urged businesses and large corporations to increase the salaries of their employees.
The prime minister said that the government was cognizant of the problems faced by the salaried class due to the price hike. Therefore, the government was fully focused on the steps to bring ease to their lives. However, the prime minister expressed that as the government’s revenues were supplemented, they would increase the salaries of the employees.
Earlier in the day, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Noshki. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the army chief will spend a complete day with the troops.
“COAS will be given a detailed update on [the] security situation in the area and operational preparedness of the formation to counter terrorist activities,” it said, adding that the army chief will also “meet troops who participated in repulsing a terrorist attack on Feb 2.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry shared that the weekly meeting of the federal cabinet had been cancelled because of the premier’s Balochistan visit. Paying tribute to the armed forces, he said, “Soldiers whose determination is higher than the mountains and passion deeper than the sea are our pride and respect. These sons of Pakistan are ready to sacrifice for the motherland.”