BATTAGRAM: PML-N secretary general Ahsan Iqbal has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government has badly failed to deliver and bring change in the country.

He was talking to locals during a visit to Battagram to offer condolence to former PML-N MPA Nawabzada Wali Mohammad Khan on the demise of his mother. He criticised government and termed it incompetent.

Mr Iqbal said when their party came into power, the GDP ratio in the country was three per cent low but they took it above than five per cent. When PTI came into power, it took the GDP to negative, he added.

He said that developmental budget was reduced that resulted in stoppage of work on ongoing projects. He said that PTI government was inaugurating the PML-N projects as it did not initiate its own schemes.

He said when PML-N formed government, it signed several agreements of different projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor with Chinese government to make Pakistan prosper and developed.

The PML-N leader said that Hazara motorway and Hazara expressway were part of CPEC that would bring prosperity to the neglected districts of the country. He added that it would boost tourism industry and create job opportunities in Battagram.

Mr Iqbal claimed that in 2016 they also made Chakdara, Gilgit and Chitral motorways part of CPEC, for which they prepared feasibility report, completed all technical formalities and construction work was planned to be started in 2018.

He said that PTI government ruined each and every sector of the country and people lost purchasing power as the economic policies were flawed.

He alleged that PTI was brought into power through illegal channels.

He alleged that Imran Khan was not even capable to manage a union council but he was given the responsibility of 200 million people of the country.

He alleged Imran Khan was selling dreams during the election campaign but when he came to the prime minister office, he forgot about the slogans of change.

“Political gimmicks have put our country in trouble. If we want to bring out the country out of the crisis, we would need to hold free and fair elections in the country,” said the PML-N leader.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2020