-PM says bad days over; time for growth, wealth creation & jobs
-Claims Pakistan faring much better than India economically
-Declares CPEC has entered the next phase of Industrialization
By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said Friday that the government has steered the country out of difficult times and now it will witness sustainable growth and development.
The prime minister was addressing a ceremony after performing the groundbreaking of upgrade and rehabilitation of 62 kilometers long Lodhran-Multan highway in Islamabad on Friday. The project will be completed at a cost of Rs 6.886 billion in two years’ time.
PM Imran Khan said there will be now wealth generation and people will get job opportunities. People will continue to hear good news on the economic front.
Imran Khan said the country registered a growth of four per cent this financial year despite COVID-19 challenge. He said we not only saved our people from the pandemic but also the economy. The premier said the government is focusing on uplifting the agriculture, industries, IT, housing and tourism to take forward the country.
Imran Khan further said that a package was being brought for the farmers to bring green revolution in the country. The prime minister said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project has entered the next phase of industrialization wherein Chinese companies will relocate their industries in the Special Economic Zones of Pakistan.
Imran Khan said we are building ten dams as part of efforts to enhance our water storage capacity. To protect the future of our coming generations, we are planting ten billion trees. Imran Khan said the government has given unprecedented incentives to the construction industry and as a result of which the cement sale has reached the record levels.
Regarding the affordable houses for the people under Naya Pakistan Housing Program, the prime minister said that the people have shown great interest in taking soft loans from the banks for construction of houses. He said the banks have so far received loan demands of Rs 60 billion. He said the government also has a plan to establish such financial institutions which only provide loans for the construction of houses.
The prime minister said we have waged a struggle to purge the society from different mafias, who only work for their vested interests. He said our struggle is aimed at ensuring rule of law in the country as no society can progress without bringing the powerful people under the umbrella of law.
Mr. Khan has claimed Pakistan was faring better than India economically, adding that the country was now on the path to progress. He said Pakistan and India had similar population density and climate conditions.
“But look at the decisions they made and where they are. Compare that with the decisions we made and see how we have fared. Today when their growth rate is at minus seven per cent, ours is at four per cent even though our position was not as strong as theirs.”
When the pandemic hit, India was in a financially stronger position, he said. The premier said in Pakistan, when the pandemic began, his government tried to protect the economy and the lives of the people, adding that Pakistan would now progress because “tough times are over.”
In his remarks, Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that three districts of South Punjab: Bahawalpur, Lodhran and Multan will greatly benefit from the upgradation project launched Friday. He said this will reduce the travel time between Bahawalpur and Multan to only 45 minutes.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Communications Murad Saeed said the present government has completed road infrastructure of 1753 kilometers in its two and a half year tenure and there is a plan to start work on another 6118 kilometers of roads this year.
