GUJRAT: Federal Minister for Investment Board Chaudhry Salik Hussain says the caretaker Punjab government’s notification of suspending divisional status for Gujrat will be reversed after the next elections as the caretakers do not have the power and resources to run the new administrative unit.

He made these remarks while talking to reporters after he kicked off his political campaign from Gujrat and announced to contest the next elections from the National Assembly seat of his father and PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

Before the campaign launch on Thursday, Salik Hussain visited the grave of his grandfather Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi where he offered prayers for his grandparents.

He had started political career from Chakwal in 2018 by winning by-poll of NA seat vacated by his uncle and former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.

This was for the first time since entering into politics that Salik attended various political and social gatherings in Gujrat where he had an interactive session with the business fraternity at the Gujrat Chamber of Commerce and Industry GtCCI.

Responding to media questions, he said that he would contest the NA seat of his father and the party might go for seat adjustment with the Pakistan Democratic Movement.

Talking to Dawn later, he said since the Election Commission had banned the recruitment until the elections in Punjab, the caretaker government was unable to run the newly-created division due to unavailability of required staff that was why the status had been suspended for the time being.

He said the Punjab government had assured him that the fresh notification would soon be withdrawn after the elections.

Earlier, speaking to businessmen, Salik said he had advised the Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to convene an all parties conference on the issue of economy as the people of Pakistan were facing high inflation.

He vowed to address the ‘wrongdoings’ done in Gujrat during the last few months.

The business fraternity shared their concerns over the consistent blockade of import shipments. Former mayor and PML-N leader Haji Nasir Mehmood was also present on the occasion.

Later, he visited the Zahoor Elahi House where a number of local party workers met him in the evening.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Last call
Updated 15 Nov, 2024

Last call

PTI should hardly be turning its "final" protest into a "do or die" occasion.
Mini budget talk
15 Nov, 2024

Mini budget talk

NO matter how much Pakistan’s finance managers try to downplay the prospect of a ‘mini budget’ to pull off a...
Diabetes challenge
15 Nov, 2024

Diabetes challenge

AMONGST the many public health challenges confronting Pakistan, diabetes arguably does not get the attention it...
China security ties
Updated 14 Nov, 2024

China security ties

If China's security concerns aren't addressed satisfactorily, it may affect bilateral ties. CT cooperation should be pursued instead of having foreign forces here.
Steep price
14 Nov, 2024

Steep price

THE Hindu Kush-Himalayan region is in big trouble. A new study unveiled at the ongoing COP29 reveals that if high...
A high-cost plan
14 Nov, 2024

A high-cost plan

THE government has approved an expensive plan for FBR in the hope of tackling its deep-seated inefficiencies. The...