LAHORE: The Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has presented a roadmap to recover economy from present day crisis.
Addressing a mammoth gathering of workers, supporters and sympathizers at Minar-e-Pakistan late last night, he said “we are becoming a laughing stock for other countries, adding that we have a little time to keep things right.”
Shukriya Lahore!! #StatesmanSpeech pic.twitter.com/Y6MNu7RCuG
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 25, 2023
In his 99 minutes speech, the PTI Chief, while challenging the country’s incumbent rulers to put forward a plan to rescue the country from the many crises it found itself mired in, said the country’s governance system has to be improved, stressing the need for supremacy of rule of law in this regard. “The way the government deals have to be completely changed,” he said.
Rok sakay, na rok saktay! #جلسہ_نہیں_ریفرینڈم_ہے pic.twitter.com/7EMi6z9MMq
— Dr. Yasmin Rashid (@Dr_YasminRashid) March 25, 2023
He said there was no “easy way out” of the prevailing crisis and said that while difficult decisions were required, only a government that had a public mandate could make such decisions.
“It will take time to increase country’s exports,” he said, pointing out ways to bring dollars to the country. Terming the overseas Pakistanis an ‘asset’, he said that they have to facilitate them for increasing the remittances.
“If we improve the governance system and impose rule of law, the problems will be solved”, he stressed, adding that it will also brings confidence into overseas Pakistanis.
Imran Khan claimed that 10 Pakistani businessmen in United States (US) possessed properties worth $25 billion. Citing a Bloomberg report, he said Pakistanis bought properties worth $10.4 billion in Dubai. “Unless we impose rule of law, we will not be able to bring investment in Pakistan”, he added.
Citing the example of China, Imran Khan said that the neigbouring country first ‘fixed and changed’ its system, then overseas Chinese came back and invested in their country. “If we come into power, we will put Pakistanis on export on short term plan”, he added.
The former prime minister noted that his government focused on information technology (IT) and its exports increased by 70 percent. “If PTI comes into power, this time we will bring a complete plan related to tourism”, he added.
“We will bring dollars to Pakistan by using natural resources and minerals”, he said, adding that his government had discussed agriculture plan with China. “We will also bring restructuring programmes related to institutions like railways and PIA [Pakistan International Airline].”
He further said that his government launched a health insurance scheme, which has now been discontinued in many places. “We will also relaunch the health card scheme if we come into power,” he added.
Khan said that Sania Nishtar has prepared a programme related to ration distribution and targeted subsidy. “We will also provide interest-free loans to the youth”, he said, adding that they would relaunch a house building programme for the salaried class. He also said that a programme related to slums areas was in the pipeline.
Level Playing Field:
Speaking about elections, the PTI chairman said a level-playing field in elections did not mean ‘tying up Imran Khan’s hands“ and using state machinery to favour his opponents. He said “a level-playing field does not mean Imran Khan’s hands are tied. A century of cases have been filed against me, including 40 terrorism cases. Now, the number of cases is almost 150.” He said that many of the cases are under treason and terrorism charges.
Imran Khan also lambasted the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for ‘postponing’ the Punjab Assembly elections, questioning under which constitutional provision the commission had changed the date.
“According to the constitution, elections should be held within 90 days of dissolution of an assembly,” he said, adding that the ECP has violated the Supreme Court’s (SC) orders of holding the elections on April 30.
Meanwhile, People in large number reported massive blockade, sharing screen shots of even Google Map showing massive red spots on ways and roads leading to Minar-e-Pakistan.
PTI workers and supporters reached the venue after skirting containers placed on the roads leading to Minar-i-Pakistan by the city administration on the pretext of security. Not only were containers placed inside the city, but routes leading to the provincial capital were also blockaded in what appeared to be a bid to stop supporters from attending the rally.
Democracy?
Gayi bhaar main!#Lahore pic.twitter.com/2VLCuJbo3y— Umaid Asif عمید آصف ???????? (@umaid_asif) March 25, 2023
Others too posted such screen shots showing massive road blockades across Lahore.
MOST BLOCKED ROAD IN THE HISTORY OF LAHORE.
Still huge crowed at MinarePakistan.
History made Today.
25th March 2023.
check google map now.
you can see the live map. @Lalika79 @ImranKhanPTI @ImranRiazKhan @sadafnawaid @NiaziAhmad_44 @HniaziISF#چلو_چلو_مینار_پاکستان_چلو pic.twitter.com/LsGXTzKQw8
— S Chaudhry (@shery4life) March 25, 2023
