NOWSHERA: Defence minister Pervez Khattak has said that the government had taken initiatives to restore Pakistan’s respect among comity of nations.

“During the recent Indo-Pak border tensions, I was surprised to see most countries, including Muslim states, support New Delhi and not Islamabad. Only Turkey and China supported us. All that happened because we have lost the world’s respect due to corrupt politicians, who looted the country with both hands,” he told a function here the other day.

Information minister Shaukat Yousafzai, MNA Imran Khattak, and MPAs Mian Jamsheduddin and Idrees Khattak were present on the occasion.

Minister asks people to pay taxes for development

The defence minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan had taken tough decisions to revamp the country’s economy.

“We are trying to restore the respect of the Green Passport at international level,” he said.

Mr Khattak said the premier strictly followed the law and didn’t accept dictation of anyone.

He said he believed that the country could be out of crisis if Pakistanis played their positive role and pay their due tax.

The minister wondered how the government would handle the country’s affairs if billionaires didn’t pay taxes.

“Nations are progressing around the world because their residents pay taxes,” he said.

Mr Khattak said the people had to pay taxes for the country’s development.

He said the government was trying its best to restore the country’s respect across the world anddevelopment the people.

The minister said he acknowledged an increase in electricity and gas tariffs.

He, however, said the government had taken several steps for the relief of downtrodden people and that everyone would get some relief by the end of the current years.

Mr Khattak said Bangladesh had achieved development by removing corruption.

He said Pakistan faced huge budget deficit, so the government had taken solid steps to reduce it.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2019