GUJRAT: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Saturday called upon the opposition parties to join hands with the government to decide on the matter of military courts as war against terrorism entered into the last phase and there was a dire need for unity on the national action plan (NAP) for its implementation with consensus.

He said: “The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government has introduced a new foreign policy as Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates consider Imran Khan as the leader of Muslim Ummah whereas Pakistan would always emphasise bringing peace in Afghanistan to get rid of terrorism.”

Addressing a public gathering after inaugurating electricity supply to Union Council Golpur, Choran, in Pind Dadan Khan tehsil of his home Jhelum district, the minister said the government felt saddened by the Friday’s blast in Quetta. “There has been no threat to democracy and Islam but there is a threat to the corrupt people in Pakistan as the government is firm on recovering the national wealth looted by former rulers,” the minister said and criticised the PPP leadership by saying that the party unfairly treated the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and it now became a smaller party that was limited to the province of Sindh only.

Adding he said PPP chairman Bilawal had not put the portrait of his father Asif Zardari in the Carvan-i-Bhutto.

He alleged that ex-premier Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari looted the national wealth which would be recovered at all costs as it was owned by the nation. He vowed to transform Khewra salt mines into a hub of tourism activities as the government had already eased the visa restrictions to promote tourism in Pakistan.

The minister said work on the canal project from Head Rasool to Pind Daden Khan would be initiated at a cost of Rs37 billion soon whereas the scheme to supply electricity to Golpur Union Council was competed with an amount of Rs9 million.

Similarly, he said, the road linking Lilliah Interchange with G T Road would be completed at a sum of Rs9bn. It would reduce travelling time between Pind Daden Khan and Jhelum by two and a half hours and Chohran Link Road would also be expanded.

He said work on water supply schemes for Golpur and adjacent areas of Chohan and Keycha Khoh costing Rs 20.5m would be executed soon, while several link roads, which were in a dilapidated condition, would be repaired.

Addressing another public meeting at Kot Katcha, the minister said all localities in the area, which had no power connection, would be electrified before Ramazan. A girls college would be constructed in the area.

Fawad said there was no shortage of doctors in Jehulm hospitals. About 100 doctors were performing duties in hospitals here and 78 of them transferred from other cities.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2019