MIANWALI: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan declared on Saturday that the country would no longer bow to anyone and would instead make autonomous decisions that would benefit its own people.
After inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for several development projects in Mianwali, including the establishment of City Park at Old Cattle Mandi Mianwali, Dualization of Sargodha-Mianwali Road (Phase-1) and the Miyawaki Forest at Namal Lake, the premier made his remarks to a large public gathering.
“God willing, when we finish our five years, I can confidently assert that Mianwali will witness unprecedented development… “I have always stated that if given the opportunity, I will fulfil (the people’s) rights through my performance,” the prime minister said while speaking to the crowd.
PM Imran told the audience that during his election campaign, he promised to improve the lives of the poor in South Punjab, tribal areas, and those who had been neglected by previous governments.
“We are willing to talk to anyone who holds a different philosophy or who falls on the right or left side of the political spectrum. We are prepared to peacefully resolve our differences with them, whether in Balochistan or the former tribal districts of Waziristan. Only those who robbed and laundered the Pakistani people’s money will ever be reconciled with us,” the Prime Minister stated.
Earlier, he inaugurated plaques to commemorate the start of three projects totaling Rs5.4 billion, including the first segment of the Mianwali-Sargodha Road, which cost Rs3.6 billion, and City Park and Miyawaki Forest near Namal Lake, both of which cost Rs3.6 billion.
He broke ground on a project to upgrade the 38-kilometer Kalabagh-Shakardara road, which is expected to cost Rs2.70 billion, and the DHQ Hospital, which is expected to cost around Rs2 billion.
The prime minister also announced the commencement of a number of projects under the Rs6.6 billion PM Package-II and District Development Package, including the Rescue 1122 service, 72 road improvements, and school upgrades.
The restoration and improvement of the Balkasar-Mianwali road, expected to cost Rs13.5 billion, and the Wooded Land at Namal Lake and Kundia Forest Park, estimated to cost Rs120 million, were among the new projects inaugurated.
“No nation with discriminating laws for rich and poor can ever advance,” the premier declared, adding that his government would never grant an NRO to corrupt politicians or reconcile with them until they were held accountable for their crimes.
He went on to say that the federal government was putting education first, with a special emphasis on females’ education.
He further told the audience that inflation was not only affecting Pakistan, but the entire world as a result of Covid lockdowns.
“You must understand that this is not solely a Pakistani issue. Due to the lockout, the United States, the world’s richest economy, is also experiencing the highest inflation since 1982,” he stated. Pakistan is the cheapest country, according to the prime minister, who hopes that prices would fall globally within three to four months.
He went on to say that the government had established the Ehsaas Rashan Scheme, which would provide a 30% subsidy on wheat, ghee, and pulses to individuals earning less than Rs50,000 per month in order to relieve inflationary pressure on the poor.
In addition, he emphasised the government’s initiatives, which include interest-free loans for three million families, a Rs2.7 million interest-free loan for house construction, a health card for the entire province of Punjab by March, and Rs47 billion in higher education scholarships for 6.2 million students.
The prime minister stated that the project to upgrade the Balkasar-Mianwali-Muzaffargarh road would be finished in 18 months.
He also told residents of the water-scarce Mohar region that the government was looking into the possibility of building a canal as well as solar tube wells to relieve farmers of their electricity expenses.
