–PM says ‘some ministers are found more in Kohsar market than their offices’
–Says it is impossible to develop cities from funds provided to provinces
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday expressed annoyance at the unprofessional conduct of his cabinet members, saying sometimes the opposition doesn’t even need to do something against the government as its ministers’ statements were enough to land it in hot water.
“When the opposition does nothing, some minister makes such a statement that it becomes difficult to handle the fallout,” PM Imran was quoted as saying during a meeting with the PTI’s social media team. “There are even some ministers who are found more in Kohsar Market than their offices,” he took a jibe at ministers.
In September last year, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had issued a “red letter” to 27 ministries for a “critical delay” in the tasks assigned to them. The letter — which is viewed as a final warning and an expression of displeasure — was issued to the secretaries for 27 federal ministries out of a total of 34 ministries.
Speaking about the sugar and wheat crisis, he said a probe report on the wheat and sugar crisis that the country faced lately would be made public and the government would not let anyone off the hook.
A day earlier, in a meeting to discuss the artificial shortage of wheat flour and sugar in the country, the prime minister had ordered that the investigative report regarding the shortage be made public as soon as possible and that exemplary punishment be meted out to those involved.
Imran said the government faced “fake news items” that were churned out deliberately. Calling for positive criticism on social media, he stressed the need for ascertaining the veracity of news stories before directing criticism at the government on their basis.
The premier said our own people buy into propaganda peddled through fake news. He said despair is forbidden in Islam and expressed the optimism that good times are around the corner.
The members of the social media team questioned the premier about the release of corrupt persons on bail to which he said that bails were granted by courts.
“However, this does not mean that the corruption cases against them have ended or they are not corrupt,” he added.
‘IMPOSSIBLE TO DEVELOP CITIES WITH PROVINCIAL FUNDS’:
Separately, Prime Minister Imran has said that it was impossible to develop cities from the funds that were provided to provinces.
The prime minister was addressing an event in Karachi via video link from the federal capital. PM Imran was scheduled to visit Karachi, but he had to call it off due to bad weather.
“Karachi’s development means Pakistan progresses,” said the prime minister. “I would like to ask Imran Ismail to inform people about the development projects that we will initiate for Sindh in general and Karachi in particular,” he added.
PM Imran said that it was impossible to improve the system in cities from the provinces’ funds. “Half of Punjab’s budget was spent on Lahore previously due to which other cities of the province suffered,” he said.
The prime minister said that cities around the world were empowered to collect revenues on their own and then start development projects. He cited examples of cities such as New York, London and even Mumbai, where cities were run by their own elected governments.
He said that Karachi was the centre of economic activity in the country and that its development meant people got employment opportunities. PM Imran said that the PTI government had brought about reforms in Punjab Police and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police.
“In Sindh, the police are not performing which is why there are Rangers in the province,” he said. He said that the government was trying to ensure that there was no interference in police matters.
Referring to the 18th Amendment, the prime minister said within the ambit of this constitutional provision, the PTI government was making all-out efforts for the development of the Sindh province, particularly Karachi.
The prime minister last visited Karachi in January this year during which he held a meeting with Governor Ismail and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
