MIANWALI:Federal Minister for Information Pervaiz Rashid says the next election will be held in 2018 after completion of the present government tenure.

He was talking to newsmen at the residence of ex-MPA Ali Haider Noor Khan here on Sunday after condoling the death of PML-N MPA Najeebullah Khan Niazi with his brothers, including former MNA Inamullah Khan Niazi, at their home.

Mr Rashid said all the political parties and politicians would face accountability by voters during the polls in 2018.

He said change in the country had started under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif as terror incidents were decreasing day by day and dollar-rupee parity had fallen down from Rs113 to Rs98.

He further said loadshedding had decreased from 12 hours to 4/5 hours and it would end completely within a few years.

He further said the government was going to construct Bhasha Dam which would be completed within seven years.

Mr Rashid said none of previous governments had dared to construct dams during the last 44 years but the present government had the honour of starting Bhasha and Dasu dams, adding that many foreign investors had shown interest in the construction of both the dams which would be completed in eight years to end the loadshedding crisis forever.

He expressed sorrow over the stampede in Multan and held the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) responsible for it as all the arrangements were its responsibility.

He said the lack of administration was always witnessed in each public meeting of the PTI, adding that some leaders criticising the VIP culture were ignoring their functions which depicted their own VIP culture.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2014