PM to pay condolence visit to families of Hazarganji blast victims: SAPM Awan

Published April 20, 2019
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan , addresses the media following a meeting in Banigala. ─ DawnNewsTV
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan , addresses the media following a meeting in Banigala. ─ DawnNewsTV

Prime Minister Imran Khan will pay a visit to the Hazara families on Sunday and offer his condolences over last week's Hazarganji suicide attack, according to Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan.

Awan, in her first media talk since her appointment earlier this week, said that the prime minister will be in Quetta tomorrow to "inaugurate a housing scheme and to condole [with the victims] of the unfortunate incident".

The newly appointed SAPM also announced that Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan is being given the additional charge of the minister of petroleum — a position held by Ghulam Sarwar Khan until the recent cabinet reshuffle.

She said that "a harmony is being created to bridge the disconnect between the people's expectations and the government's decisions, if there is any," adding that "this is number one on the prime minister's agenda now."

Awan said that "various ministries have been given a variety of targets to provide relief to the masses, especially in the month of Ramazan."

She said that the new finance and economic teams have been instructed to devise policies that are "aligned with the prime minister's vision and priorities".

Awan urged the opposition parties to "play their role and support the government in ridding the problems facing the people of Pakistan" but warned that "if they construe the government's oft-repeated desire for reconciliation as a sign of weakness then that would spawn problems."

The ministers whose portfolios had changed as part of the cabinet reshuffle, including former information minister Fawad Chaudhry, did not attend the meeting in Banigala today. When asked if Chaudhry and others' absence was a sign of their unhappiness, Awan clarified that "this was not a cabinet meeting but rather a spokespersons' meeting."

"Fawad Chaudhry is a member of the spokespersons' committee but he had informed in advance that he was not in Islamabad and was travelling to Lahore. He will be a part of the next meeting," she said.

Awan said that the media industry's concerns regarding the crisis it's facing "are valid", adding that "we are going to engage you (media) rather than confront you."

"When we go into the engagement strategy, there will be consultation. We will hear some, we will say some and then there will be a win-win situation where your well-being will be our prime agenda," she said.

Opinion

Four hundred seats?

Four hundred seats?

The mix of divisive cultural politics and grow­th-oriented economics that feeds Hindu middle-class ambition and provides targeted welfare are key ingredients in the BJP’s political trajectory.

Editorial

Weathering the storm
Updated 29 Apr, 2024

Weathering the storm

Let 2024 be the year when we all proactively ensure that our communities are safeguarded and that the future is secure against the inevitable next storm.
Afghan repatriation
29 Apr, 2024

Afghan repatriation

COMPARED to the roughshod manner in which the caretaker set-up dealt with the issue, the elected government seems a...
Trying harder
29 Apr, 2024

Trying harder

IT is a relief that Pakistan managed to salvage some pride. Pakistan had taken the lead, then fell behind before...
Return to the helm
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Return to the helm

With Nawaz Sharif as PML-N president, will we see more grievances being aired?
Unvaxxed & vulnerable
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Unvaxxed & vulnerable

Even deadly mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria have vaccines, but they are virtually unheard of in Pakistan.
Gaza’s hell
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Gaza’s hell

Perhaps Western ‘statesmen’ may moderate their policies if a significant percentage of voters punish them at the ballot box.