LAHORE: PML-Q Likeminded group President Saleem Saifullah on Thursday said his group was ready to sit with all political forces in the country’s best interest. Unveiling a roadmap for the country’s recovery on Thursday, he told reporters that Pir Pagara had invited his group for consultation on Friday (today).
He said the purpose of the programme was to chart out a future roadmap for Pakistan’s recovery. He said as a political party, they knew the Pakistan’s true potential and completely understood the role the government to change the lives of the Pakistanis for the better.
Party Secretary General Humanyun Akhtar said it was not the time to criticise others, but to sit together for the nation’s development. Atta Manika said the group would never allow any political force to disrespect the people’s mandate. “We have no expectations from the government,” Manika said, adding that they would not allow the PPP dominate the province.
He said time was not far when the roadmap given by the likeminded leaders will be adopted to ensure progress of the country.
To a question, Manika said they were aware of the reality that the PML-N was not offering any ministries or posts, but they favoured it to save Punjab from the PPP. Hamid Nasir Chattha said all political parties criticised the government, but the likeminded leaders always had a different approach, “that is why we have done detailed homework in preparing the roadmap”.
Chattha said resolutions of all the problems required a serious politics and micro-level working, which the PML-Q Likeminded had already done. He said the country needed an immediate start to the renaissance process.
Saifullah said there was a need of public service improvement and complete retrieval of people’s trust in the political system. “Pakistan needs an open and accountable government that has the intention, vision and capacity to deliver,” he said.
The PML-Q Likeminded leader emphasised that this was the only way Pakistan could become strong, stable and move towards high growth, breaking itself from the shackles of poverty. He said the roadmap they had conceived for covered law and order, foreign policy, constitutional changes, good governance, free media, economy, industry, agriculture services, trade, infrastructure, energy, water, health, education, labour, women, minorities, social safety nets, culture and arts and environment.
He highlighted its main features and sought media’s help in giving it proper coverage so that people could be apprised of the party’s efforts. Akhtar said there were 22 sectors on which the party had initially focused. He said economy was the top issue as it had been deteriorating. He linked poverty, energy crisis and price hike with the IMF’s policies. He said the Basic Health Units would be revived through the National Health Insurance Policy Programme. Talking about the water crisis, he said none of the governments had constructed even a single dam in the last 30 years.
