Govt cannot become silent spectator over issues faced by masses: PM Imran
PM Imran orders countrywide crackdown to check smuggling of food items, other goods
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday while directing to formulize a comprehensive roadmap to reduce prices of petroleum products as much as possible, said that the government cannot become a silent spectator over issues of the general public.
He said that while presiding over a meeting to reduce petrol and gas prices.
Minister for Energy Umer Ayub, Minister for Planning Development and Reforms Asad Umar, Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Nadeem Babar, Special Assistant Shahzad Qasim, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Secretary Petroleum Mian Asad and other senior officers attended the meeting.
Prime Minister s Special Assistant on Petroleum Nadeem Babar gave a detailed briefing to the prime minister on government s measures to reduce electricity and gas tariff.
The prime minister directed the Special Assistant to prepare a roadmap on urgent basis for bringing down petrol, diesel and gas tariff.
During the meeting, the prime minister said the government was aware of the problems being faced by the low income group and the salaried class, and it was striving to reduce the prices of power and gas to maximum level, so that those groups could be given relief.
Referring to the irrational long term agreements by the previous rulers by burdening the people, he said despite all the factors, the government could not remain silent and every option should be explored for provision of maximum relief.
He also directed for consideration of every feasible option to provide relief to the masses by reducing prices of petrol and gas and said that the government’s main objective was to extend maximum possible relief to the low income group.
The prime minister directed his special assistant on petroleum to immediately formulate a comprehensive roadmap with possibility to bringing down the prices of petrol, diesel and gas.
Workable recommendations in this regard should be submitted at the earliest so that these could be considered for implementation, he further directed.
Crackdown against smuggling
On the other hand, PM Imran, in a major decision to check smuggling of food items and other goods, ordered to immediately launch an anti-smuggling crackdown across the country on a large scale.
The prime minister directed the Ministry of Interior, federal and provincial law enforcing institutions, FBR and the provincial governments to immediately launch a joint anti-smuggling operation.
He ordered the Ministry of Interior to present him within the next 48 hours a report based on the actions being taken along with a comprehensive strategy.
The prime minister directed to start taking short-term, medium-term and long-term measures while keeping in view the recommendations of the task force constituted to check smuggling.
Intelligence Bureau (IB), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) were also directed to present monitoring reports of the effective anti-smuggling crackdown, to the prime minister on regular basis.
As the report of progress on the establishment of border markets along the western frontiers was presented during the meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan also directed to speed up the pace of progress on the establishment of border markets in Balochistan.
The prime minister said the smuggling of food items, which caused price-hike and difficulties for the common man, was totally unacceptable.
He said as effective control of smuggling, which was causing billions of rupees losses to the country’s economy, was a matter of national interest, no negligence would be tolerated in that respect.
The prime minister further directed to formulate a comprehensive policy regarding the Iranian petroleum products. Technology should be utilized in curbing the smuggling, he added.
Strict action against hoarders
Meanwhile, for providing the poor with relief, Prime Minister Imran Khan also ordered strict and speedy crackdown against profiteers and hoarders “who are responsible for spike in the prices of essential food items and creating artificial inflation.” The premier further directed the concerned authorities to review prices of essential food items, and reduce the prices by 15 to 20 percent.
The PM stressed that the essential food items should not be hoarded illegally. “Benefit of the poor surpasses everything else.” PM Khan also held a meeting considering health, education and other civic facilities of the federal capital, and said no negligence would be tolerated in provision of best possible healthcare facilities to the masses and that all resources would be provided to ensure quality of education.
He directed the health secretary to pay special attention to make administration of public sector hospitals fully functional. He asked officials to overcome the shortage of manpower in the hospitals and ensure provision of medicines.
Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood briefed the meeting about the steps taken to bring improvements in 423 public sector schools and colleges of the federal capital.
The premier further directed addressing the issue of shortage of teachers in schools. “Since it is the matter of our future, we should consider education at the highest priority, and take all the requisite steps to bring improvement in it.”
Khan directed that a roadmap should be prepared for provision of quality education at all schools and colleges of the federal capital. He also emphasised the need for paying special attention to the education of girls.
Regarding encroachments in parks and green areas in Islamabad, the Prime Minister directed the Chairman of the CDA that those violating the rules of the civic authority in the residential colonies should be identified to take appropriate action against them.
Discussing the law and order situation of Islamabad, Khan directed to establish complaint management system in every police station.
He directed the interior minister to review the manpower and financial requirements of Islamabad police so that requisite steps could be taken to make the federal capital a model city in terms of its security.
Yesterday, PM Imran held a meeting and required Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial authorities to immediately consider suggestions for reducing prices of wheat.
The wheat procurement targets will be doubled to meet the demand for wheat, and the Sugar Advisory Board will determine the cost of sugar through a third-party evaluation.
Moreover, the premier directed officials to take strict action in preventing smuggling of onion, wheat, and other essential commodities from eastern and western borders.
The prime minister further ordered reducing price of ghee sighting reduction in international market for providing relief to the poor.
“The matter should be raised before the Economic Coordination Committee for implementation of the plan,” the PM directed, adding that stabilising the prices of essential food items was critical for giving relief to the needy.
PM Imran asserted that ensuring provision of basic necessities for the general public at maximum possible reduced cost “is his government’s top priority”.
He stressed on paying special attention towards gathering real data about stocks of wheat, sugar and other food items so that accurate estimates of supply and demand could be made, and advance arrangements for procurement could be ensured.
