HAFIZABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan remarked on Sunday that he did not enter politics to learn about the pricing of “aloo and tamatar,” but rather to serve the country’s young.
The PM made the remark while speaking at a rally in Hafizabad, Punjab, where he was on a day-long visit.
The prime minister stated that he entered politics 25 years ago for the sake of the country’s youth, adding that he had no personal advantage from doing so because he already had all a person could desire in life.
“I didn’t join politics to know the prices of potatoes and tomatoes. I joined it for the sake of the country’s youth”, the premier said. “If we want to become a great nation, we will have to support the truth, and this is what I have been preaching for the last 25 years.”
On Punjab’s Development
During his speech, the premier told the Punjabi people that his government will work to improve the province, which he called “unique” in the country’s history.
“In the next one-and-a-half years, this country will break records in terms of development,” he said.
Welfare state
The prime minister then spoke about converting Pakistan into an example welfare state based on the Madinah model.
“I established the Rehmatul-lil-Alameen Authority in Pakistan so that every Pakistani youngster is informed of the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) life and teachings and remains on the road of truth.”
He also said that all of Pakistan’s past presidents had no notion why the country was founded in the first place.
“If the purpose of creating Pakistan is not known [to these politicians] then we cannot become a nation. Unless the nation stands against evil, it will continue to rise. If we do not stand against oppression, then oppression will increase,” he said.
A Uniform educational framework for students
The prime minister went on to discuss Pakistan’s educational system and why his government chose to introduce the Single National Curriculum.
“We focused on the Single National Curriculum first, and then introduced 2.6 million merit-based scholarships for the country’s children,” he stated.
He said that the PTI-led government will develop two technology universities in Pakistan for the first time, allowing the country to be at the forefront of technological advancements and inventions.
“Despite having the talent, we are unable to come up with technological inventions and are forced to purchase technology from abroad as we don’t have the universities here that could educate and train students,” he said.
Criticism on Oppositon
Taking a swipe at the opposition and how leaders of various parties chastised him for making statements critical of European Union envoys, the prime minister said that in the past, Pakistani prime ministers would “shiver with fear” whenever they met a US president, citing Bilawal’s tone slip “kaanpein taang rahi hoti thein” as an example.
“My criticism of the EU was justifiable,” the prime minister remarked, adding that opposition leaders such as Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Shahbaz Sharif, and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari thought chastising EU envoys was a “terrible injustice.”
In a dig at Shahbaz, the prime minister said he would swiftly change into a suit and tie whenever a foreign envoy arrived to meet him.
“Since I know the West better than everyone else, I can assure that they do not respect people who polish their boots,” he said. “They respect nations who stand up for themselves.”
PM also spoke about the US War on Terror and the ensuing drone attacks in Pakistan, calling it a “violation of human rights.” He also talked about the “terrorist” living in London for the last 30 years, saying that this terrorist was responsible for the killing of more people than those killed by US drones.
