- Nawaz warns nobody will be allowed to impede process of progress, says few thousands of people cannot not change mandate given to govt by millions
- Asks opponents to join him in the name of country’s development and progress, says those seeking revolution will feel ‘ashamed of themselves’
- Honours top taxpayers with privilege cards, granting access to VIP lounges at airports, fast track clearance at immigration counters, issuance of gratis passports and baggage allowance enhancement from $500 to $5,000
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
As two major political parties in opposition – led by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan – seek to shake the foundations of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) government, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that “merely a few thousands” of people could not take away the mandate given to the government by “millions” of people.
While address the launch of Taxpayers’ Privileges and Honour Card Scheme at the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday, the premier said that no one would be allowed to impede the process of progress in the country as the government was given mandate to steer Pakistan out of the several crises it was faced with.
“The people of Pakistan have given us mandate to help rid the country of corruption, terrorism and economic ills and we will make an economic turnaround with our efforts,” the prime minister said, negating any room for “negative politics” in the country and stressing that it was time to indulge to “constructive politics”.
Sharif focused his address on electricity crisis, terrorism and law and order situation which were among the most important issues at the moment. He said that country was in need of stability and those shouting for revolution would soon “feel ashamed of themselves”.
“Thirty to forty thousand people cannot bring any revolution and steal the mandate of those who secured millions of votes in the polls,” he said.
The prime minister asked his opponents to become a part of the development agenda of the government as the country could not afford “negative politics” at this juncture. He pointed out that country’s problems could only be addressed through solidarity and unity.
Sharif further added that his government had accepted the mandate of other parties, and similarly, others too should accept the mandate given to his government.
Sharif said that PML-N’s agenda was only development-oriented for which stability was needed. He said change could not come in a day or a year but it required “time and hard work”.
OF ELECTRICITY AND DEVELOPMENT:
Speaking on the power crisis, Sharif said that electricity crisis was complicated and could be resolved in one year.
On the remedial aspect of the subject, he said that a number of development projects were underway in cooperation with China and expressed the hope that the results would be obvious soon.
Sharif also cited a number of power generation projects, including two power houses of 1,300 (mega watts) MW at Port Qasim, 660 MW at Thar, 1,300 MW at Jamshoro and enhanced capacity project of 2,500 MW at Tarbela Dam. He said the Neelum-Jhelum project would also be operational by 2017.
Speaking on mass transit program, the premier said they wanted to complete Karachi’s Green Bus Project at the earliest on the same grounds as that of Lahore’s Metro Bus Project.
The prime minister said that the federal government would fund the Karachi Transport Project which will be completed in shortest possible time.
Moreover, he said that schemes for supply of water and Karachi-Lahore Motorway Project had also been initiated. He said work on communications, energy, health and other areas was going on at a fast pace, while a lot of work had been planned for Gwadar Port.
ON TAXPAYERS’ CONTRIBUTIONS AND ECONOMY:
Commenting on the country’s economy, Nawaz said Pakistan was on the path of progress and its achievements had been acknowledged by world bodies and financial institutions – such as Moody’s and IMF – as foreign exchange reserves had reached $ 14 billion, the financial deficit had been reduced to four percent and there had been an increase of three per cent in number of taxpayers in the country. He also mentioned the positive response of investors to the Euro Bonds, which he said, spoke volumes about the success of government’s economic policies.
Recalling that the rate of the US dollar against the Pakistan Rupee started its slide with the efforts of the government, he said that he and the finance minister had to put in their best efforts to arrest the decline of the dollar at Rs 98, as the low Pakistan Rupee-US dollar parity would have negatively impacted the country’s exports.
The premier asked the investors and businessmen to continue strengthening national economy through their taxes and not to be deterred by those giving calls for “revolution and change”.
During the launching ceremony, the premier handed over privilege cards with one-year validity to the top taxpayers of different categories.
The scheme, launched to promote a tax-compliant culture in the country, will recognise top 100 taxpayers, who will be getting excellence awards by the prime minister, access to VIP lounges at airports, fast track clearance at immigration counters, issuance of gratis passports and a baggage allowance enhanced from 500 to 5,000 dollars.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said privilege and honour cards will be issued to top taxpayers in each of the following categories: salaried individuals, non-salaried individuals, association of persons and companies. He also mentioned that 120,000 notices had been issued to non-filers.