ISLAMABAD - Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib said on Tuesday that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had resorted to presenting wrong figures to mislead the nation about the government’s economic achievements.
In a reaction to the remarks of Bilawal, he said that the PPP chairman was completely baffled by the economic performance of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) government.
He said that the PPP had been ruling Sindh for three consecutive terms, asking Bilawal to share the initiatives taken by his government to curb inflation across the province including Karachi. The minister added that the people of Karachi had been left at the mercy of mafias.
He said that the financial condition of the people of Sindh was getting worse with each passing day, while, in contrast, the family of Bilawal had became ultra rich. “Bilawal and his family are now recognised for Omni group, money laundering and fake accounts scams,” he added. “Under the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, an amount of over Rs28 billion has been distributed to more than 2 million families under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme,” he maintained.
Minister stresses enhanced Pak-China media cooperation
Farrukh said that an amount of Rs12,000 per month was being provided to many families each under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme. “Around 35 per cent of the total amount distributed to the people of Sindh,” he added.
He said that per capita income during the ongoing year stood at Rs246,414, adding that it was increasing by 14.6 per cent compared to the last year. “The large-scale manufacturing has also increased by nine per cent, sale of the cement by 40 per cent, and sale of the vehicles by 54 per cent.”
The minister said that total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth had been increased by $33 billion which was a big achievement. He added that the Roshan Digital Bank Account initiative was receiving overwhelming response from the Pakistani expatriates who had deposited one billion dollars so far.
Meanwhile, the state minister also underlined the need for enhanced cooperation and close coordination between the media industries of China and Pakistan.
The minister, during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan Nong Rong, who called on him at his office here, said that news organisations of both countries including Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) and Xinhua had already signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for the purpose, but there was a need to expand the level of cooperation to film industries.
The Chinese envoy said that Pakistani media had played an important role in disseminating positive information about the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), dispelling propaganda of the countries hostile to the initiative. He stressed the need for strengthening business-to-business cooperation between the two countries. “Trade is a good beginning for all kinds of cooperation.”
The minister said that the CPEC was a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which was crucial to regional connectivity.
He informed the envoy of the progress made on the Allama Iqbal Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Faisalabad, which, he said, had great potential for the Chinese investors. Necessary infrastructure in economic zone had already been developed.
The minister also highlighted the need for joint ventures by companies of both countries in the textile sector.
He expressed his pleasure over extension of the CPEC beyond infrastructure development and social and agriculture cooperation. Farrukh Habib called for city-to-city cooperation, research and collaboration on social protection programmes between China and Pakistan.
During the meeting, both the dignitaries exchanged felicitations on the successful completion of 70 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
Farrukh said that China was an iron brother and all-weather friend of Pakistan, adding that China had always stood by Pakistan in difficult times.
“The Karakoram Highway stands testimony to our strong friendly relations. The people of Pakistan also have a very favourable opinion about China,” the minister remarked. He also congratulated Nong Rong on the completion of 100 years of the establishment of Communist Party of China (CPC).