Welfare of poor segments focus of PM Imran’s policies: Shibli Faraz –Says stable institutions, strengthening economy among highest priorities

ISLAMABAD : Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz on Thursday said that welfare of the poor segments of the society is the focus of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s policies. He said this while briefing media about the meeting of National Coordination Committee on Housing, Construction and Development, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan here in Islamabad. Shibli Faraz said that Rs400 billion construction-related projects will be initiated in the last quarter of the current year. He said the Prime Minister is giving special emphasis to the uplift of the construction sector in order to revive the economy. A project envisaging construction of houses and apartments worth 145 billion rupees will be started on the 20th October, he added. Shibli Faraz said that government decided to give loans on five percent markup to those constructing five marla houses while for the ten marla houses, the markup rate will be seven percent. He said additional Rs30 billion have been set aside as subsidy for Naya Pakistan Housing scheme. The federal minister said the Prime Minister today chaired a meeting of National Coordination Committee which was attended by the country’s prominent investors and builders. He said the meeting discussed several proposals to uplift the sector including holding international road-shows for construction-related projects in order to attract investment of overseas Pakistanis. Prime Minister has now decided to hold the meeting of the committee every two or three days keeping in view the importance of the sector, he added. The information minister expressed satisfaction over the recent auctions of Capital Development Authority saying there is an enabling environment for the construction sector in the country.  Meanwhile in an exclusive interview with a private television channel today, Senator Shibli Faraz has said that stabilizing all damaged national institutions and strengthening the economy were among the highest priorities of the PTI-led government under hard-working leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The Information Minister said that bringing important national organizations out of loss and making them self sufficient were the topmost priorities of the PTI-led federal government. Criticising the two major opposition parties, he said opposition should not interfere in the efforts to move Pakistan forward as Pakistan is now heeding towards development with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s leadership, who with his team was currently dealing with important issues including coronavirus. He said in order to make all national institutions profitable, it was necessary to expedite administrative reforms as well as ensure efficient utilization of all available resources in a transparent manner. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan was keeping a close watch on everyone, and anyone involved in corruption will not be spared. He said the PTI was representative of the people of Pakistan and other side of the coin opposition known as corrupt practices. PTI government had successfully launched the biggest-ever financial assistance programme for deserving people in the history of Pakistan, as its fruits would reach the common people very soon, he said. The government was providing financial assistance through Ehsaas Cash Emergency Programme and the programme reflected Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision to help out the poor and deprived segments of society, he added. PTI government will complete its tenure of five years, he said, adding, “we have promised the people to bring institutional reforms and we should remain be focused at that.” The minister said that “PTI government get elected only because of Imran Khan and the party still united under his honest supervision.” He said that Imran Khan always has taken bold decisions in national interest, not for political benefits like previous governments. He also maintained that the PTI government is now moving towards building more dams on rivers, which will lessen pressure on foreign exchange and allow Pakistan to generate its own power sector capable. Replying a question about statements of opposition parties in which it taking credit of Diamer-Bhasha Dam project, he disclosed that the government has kick-started work on Diamer Bhasha dam to meet energy requirements.