| Info minister says JUI-F not substitute of PTI | PML-N, PPP have no place in national politics | If Maulana Fazl’s party comes into power, it will be unfortunate for country | Says ‘disappointment’ reflected in Zardari’s speech about ousting PM Khan’s govt

Imran Khan is the leader of the federation, says Fawad

ISLAMABAD   -  Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Tuesday lashed out at major opposition political parties for criticising Prime Minister Imran Khan, just for the sake of increasing their falling popularity. 

“The leadership of Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz and Pakistan People Party, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Isalm (Fazal) is nothing more than pygmies of politics and their criticism against Prime Minister Imran Khan is just an attempt to increase their stature,” the information minister told reporters while addressing post-cabinet press conference.

Briefing media persons about the decisions taken by federal cabinet during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the minister said, return of those, who were against women’s rights and support violence in the name of religion, to the power was not encouraging for any society.

What else could be expected if three to four persons from one party contested elections in the same constituency, he said adding “Ultimately, it would result into defeat in elections.”

“Due to administrative problems, we suffered some set back in the local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” Chaudhry Fawad maintained, adding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was the only national party in the country.

He said parties like JUI-F could not be substitute of the PTI, whereas PML-N and PPP had no place in national politics. “Imran Khan is the leader of the federation, it is important for the leadership and workers of PTI to put aside their differences and strengthen Imran Khan,’ he said. Without Imran Khan, Pakistan’s politics would disintegrate, he added.

The minister opined that it would be unfortunate for the country if Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s party comes into the power. He said Maryam Nawaz had the habit of committing political blunders and “even today she did not disappoint her detractors.”

Disappointment was reflected in Asif Ali Zardari’s speech as well, he said adding only those could speak in that way whose wishes could not be fulfilled. Those who were talking about managing the economy had drowned the economy by taking loans during their tenures, he added.

It is to be noted here that PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari while addressing party workers the other day stated that the “formula makers” were now seeking solutions. He went on to say that talks could only happening after ousting of the PM Imran-led government.

Fawad Ch said also the federal cabinet extended gratitude to all the foreign dignitaries for attending the moot.

The minister said that on the occasion of OIC FM conference, Pakistan’s viewpoint on Afghan humanitarian crisis was resonated across the world. The minister said that the cabinet decided that Ministers for Science and Technology and Information Technology would meet the Chief Election Commissioner on Wednesday (tomorrow) to assure all out assistance from the government in holding Islamabad local government elections through EVMs.  

He said that the ECP should issue tenders for purchase of EVMs so that next general elections could be conducted through the EVMs. He said that the cabinet was given a detailed briefing on state of economy which expressed satisfaction over its stability due to positive economic indicators.

In five years, the present government would have to repay the $ 55 billion loans taken by Nawaz Sharif and Zardari regimes. He said that this year Pakistan has retired $ 12.27 billion loans whereas it would have to repay $ 12.5 billion next year.

Moreover, he said that the government had made payments of Rs134 billion to IPPs and these payments were made due to agreements signed during the tenure of Shehbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif.

He said that textile sector has shown 30 percent growth and information technology exports have risen by 47 per cent so far and hopefully they would be doubled by the end of the fiscal year. He said that 31 per cent increase has been registered in income tax.

Similarly he said that farmers earned Rs 1100 billion additional income due to bumper crops and increase in per acre yield.  He said the then rulers installed expensive plants on imported fuel, as a result of which electricity tariff was high today.

The minister said that the present government has to pay the expenses which were not incurred, even if there was no demand for electricity then according to their capacity we have to pay electricity charges.

Quoting an example, he said that if an IPP can generate 100 MW of electricity, but need was only 25-MW, the government have to pay for 100 MW of electricity.

The minister said that as a result of these agreements, Pakistan was constantly incurring loss which would peak in 2023. Long-term loans have to be taken to repay the short-term loans taken in the past, said Chaudhry Fawad.

During the past two years, the number of car manufacturers in Pakistan  has increased from 5 to 15, said Chaudhry Fawad adding that currently 240,000 vehicles were being manufactured per year in Pakistan, and the  goal was to achieve the production of 500,000 vehicles.

All parts of these cars were manufactured in Pakistan, which is a real success, said the minister.

He said that new investments are being made in the car manufacturing sector, and banks have increased their capital in the car financing sector from Rs 240 billion to Rs 338 billion by October 2021.

He said that 111435 cars were produced in the first five months of fiscal year which meant that car manufacturing has increased by 69 per cent. Fawad said 85 percent motorcycles were being manufactured in Pakistan, their parts were also manufactured locally. The sale of motorcycles, tractors, jeeps, cars has shown historic increase.

He said the sales of Suzuki Cultus increased by 161%, Suzuki Wagon R by 79%, Suzuki Bolan by 32% and Suzuki Alto by 180%. He said that 6775 units were manufactured by Toyota in July this year only.

Electricity consumption has increased by 13% and diesel consumption by 26%, he added. The minister said if the economy had gone down, then how could the demand of vehicles increased.