‘Sit-in politics’ antagonistic to economic development, says Ahsan Iqbal  

• Says Pakistan competing with sit-in-free economies of India, Bangladesh 

ISLAMKOT: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Friday said that there was a need to give up “sit-in politics” in order to promote the politics of cooperation for the sake of the country’s development.

Talking to reporters after a daylong visit of mining and power projects at Thar Coal Block II, the interior minister said that Pakistan is competing with the economies of countries like India and Bangladesh where “no sit-ins are happening”.

“Economic development in the country could not be achieved without political stability in the country,” he said while urging the political parties to refrain from such practices.

Commenting on the “successful execution” of Thar coal project, he said the coal project will now be included in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which is a proof that Pakistanis could work in unity.

A foundation has been laid to make Tharparkar, the energy capital of the country and soon the people would start receiving round-the-clock power supply because of the mega power projects being set up, he said.

Underscoring the government’s commitment to the development in the country, Ahsan Iqbal said that the government was striving to make Pakistan an economically viable country of the region. It was because of the efforts made by the federal government that the country’s “dead economy” was now showing a high rate of growth rate, he remarked.

Ahsan claimed that some anti-Pakistan elements, through their agents and pawns, had tried their best to create hindrances in their selfless endeavours to serve the people, but they failed.

THAR ON WAY TO DEVELOPMENT

The interior minister further said that Tharparkar was going to become one of the biggest private investment centres of the country, as foreign investors from across the world were investing billions of rupees in the desert district.

It was because of the cooperation politics that the district was now moving to get status of the energy capital of the country, the minister said while adding, “If provincial and federal governments cooperate with each other on projects like Thar Coal, no one could stop the economic development in Pakistan.”

Ahsan Iqbal, who earlier met women dumper truck drivers during the visit to various plants, lauded their efforts, saying, “Our country will not progress without the active participation of women.”

The role of area women was commendable as they were performing technical and non-technical job assignments, even they were operating heavy machinery and vehicles, he added.

He said that launching of development projects have also opened the opportunity for a quality education to the children, besides provision of better health facilities. He also announced that the government will establish a university in the region.

CPEC

Praising the Chinese government and people, the interior minister said that the neighbouring country was greatly helping Pakistan in different projects under the umbrella of the CPEC.

He said CPEC had a vital role in Pakistan’s economic development achieved during the last three years, adding “with the completion of CPEC projects, Pakistan China relations will become further strengthened.”

Responding to a question on the UN vote on Jerusalem, the minister said that Pakistan has an independent foreign policy and that the entire world supported the joint resolution put forwarded by Turkey and Pakistan.

Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) Chief Executive Officer Shamsuddin Shaikh briefed the minister on the status and progress of the mining and power plant operations.