Pakistan faced continuous political instability, says Ahsan Iqbal

• Says putting Ishaq Dar’s name on ECL under legal review

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal remarked on Wednesday that the invocation of the controversial Article 58-2(b) led to destabilisation of elected governments.

Ahsan was addressing an event of Pakistan Society of Development Economics at a local hotel here.

Under the Martial Law, the growth rate was boosted with the help of funding from international countries, remarked Ahsan, who additionally holds the charge of the Planning and Development Ministry, adding that artificial prosperity was promoted in the country.

Deploring the anti-government alliance of opposition parties, he said that this would open a new chapter of political instability in the country. He remarked that political parties should understand that holding protests affect country’s progress.

“The general elections will be held after five months,” he said, adding that protests will delay the elections. He added that the former finance minister Senator Ishaq Dar, who is seeking treatment abroad, saved the economy from drowning.

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal also said that the law is above everyone, and no one can escape its shackles, thus the placement of Ishaq Dar on Exit Control List (ECL) is being legally reviewed by the government.

He further stated that the opposition has been constantly abusing the government, and that multiple entities are being formed against the current government as well. “There is Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on one side, and the opposition on the other,” he said.

“There are only five months left for this government to complete its term, whoever is busy forming opposition alliances can wait until it’s over,” he added jibing at opposition parties.

“Placing Ishaq Dar’s name on the ECL is under legal review currently, but instead of humiliating him, we should be giving him a medal. The whole world appreciates his work and contribution,” the minister added.

On the controversy surrounding FATA reforms, Ahsan shared that the FATA reforms package was ready. “Only the present government will announce the package,” he added.

Ahsan Iqbal also said Pakistan was ready for 5G technology as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government was taking wide-ranging measures to pull country towards a digitalisation regime.

Mentioning that the present era was an era of knowledge and technology, the minister said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was in accordance with the government’s vision of technology-induced development.

He also said that the government, through an efficient strategy, had been able to overcome security problems and energy shortage and now the country was moving fast on its way towards progress and prosperity.

The minister further said that CPEC was a massive project. Importance of the world-class seaport in Gwadar for the region itself could not be ignored and as an integral component of CPEC, it would help connect different regions and contribute towards development in Asia as a whole, he added.

“The developments taking place in Asia, and steady progress being made in the fields of technology in the countries of the region will definitely turn the continent a major contributor to the global GDP,” he said and added, “This is not merely an assumption that Asia will be contributing 52 per cent of the world GDP by 2050.”

Ahsan went on to say that keeping in view the developments taking place around the world as well as in the neighbouring countries, the PML-N government as a policy had launched a series of infrastructure development schemes to raise the living standards of the people.

“Power generation projects, coupled with improved communication and transportation schemes initiated during past four years are registered to be making the needed difference in the national economy as well as in the lives of the people,” he added.

Reiterating that “poverty alleviation” was among the top priorities of the government, he said that a comprehensive scheme had also been chalked out to generate optimum employment opportunities for the people through adequate attention towards industrialization, service sector and agriculture growth on scientific lines.

“Youth, which constitutes a major proportion of our population, is a blessing that ought to be adequately trained,” he said referring to the government efforts towards technology-induced development in the country.

“This is all the more heartening to note that many of our talented youngsters are studying in reputable universities of China and also receiving training in the wide fields of science and technology,” he said.

Ahsan Iqbal said when the PML-N government assumed power in 2013, the economy was simply in shambles and security situation was alarming. The situation has changed now, particularly in the context of Karachi, he added.