MANSEHRA/HARIPUR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Ghulam Ali on Tuesday said it would be unfair to expect any relief in exorbitant power bills from the caretaker government due to the current economic crisis.

“Only the elected government can address the country’s economic and political challenges,” the governor told reporters after attending Hazara University’s 13th convocation here.

Mr Ali said US Consul General in Peshawar Shante Moore called on him and discussed with him Pakistan’s current economic and political situation.

“During the meeting, I sought the US help as a superpower in getting the International Monetary Fund’s loan conditions for Pakistan relaxed. The US consul general assured me that he would take up the matter with his government,” he said.

Says he discussed tough IMF loan terms with US consul general

The governor said the delimitation of constituencies was fast nearing completion and would be completed in the next two months leading to the announcement of election schedule by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

He questioned the rationale behind the Jamaat-i-Islami’s a sit-in against inflation outside the Governor’s House.

“Does the Jamaat-i-Islami think a governor can address inflation-induced public issues? Wisdom should prevail,” he said.

Earlier, the governor told the convocation that Pakistan needed scientific and technological development for its progress.

He said the country lagged behind in the field of science and technology, so its universities should focus their attention on research-oriented education.

Mr Ali said science and technology could help the country overcome current crises.

He advocated women’s education and said people should provide their daughters with education and opportunities to excel in life like their sons.

“As women make 52 per cent of our population, we cannot progress until they have equal opportunities in science and technology,” he said.

Later, degrees were given away to more than 500 students, who graduated in different disciplines from 2021 to 2023.

Meanwhile in Haripur, the governor while addressing the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected cabinet of All Traders Federation on Tuesday, said politico-economic stability in the country was the only solution to the prevailing crisis in the country.

“People should not pin high hopes on the caretaker set up for controlling price hike and providing relief in the electricity bills,” he said.

The governor said that inflation was a global issue. “This unprecedented depreciation of Pakistani currencyagainstthe dollar might have caused inflation but its hike can be arrested with economic stability,” he said, adding that the nation must stop purchasing imported goods.

He said unless imports were curtailed and exports increased to the desired level, the objective of economic stability would remain elusive.

Earlier, while addressing the students of a private school, the governor said it was the century of education and advances in the field of economy rather than war and the nations equipped with the tools of science and technology would be able to survive.

He said the children deprived of education could not contribute towards bringing socio-economic wellbeing both for their families and the country. He urged the parents to ensure that every child was in school and getting modern education to compete at global level.

Syed Safdar Zaman Shah, member Saarc Chamber of Commerce, Tayab Swati, president Haripur Chamber of Commerce and Salim Awan, president All Traders Federation, were among those who also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2023