Optimism prevails as ‘dynamic’ president takes charge

ISLAMABAD: Terming President Dr Arif Alvi as an ‘active and dynamic’ personality, the public office-holders and parliamentarians on Sunday expressed optimism that the new head of the state would play a constructive role for the country with special focus on uplift of social sector, including health and education.

Those in attendance at the oath-taking ceremony of President Alvi here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr shared their views with APP, expressing confidence that President Arif Alvi would take practical steps and positively contribute for the progress of Pakistan.

President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan said it was a matter of satisfaction for democracy that the new president had assumed his office following the completion of his predecessor’s five-year tenure. Terming the head of the state as a symbol of unity, he hoped that President Alvi would become a source of harmony for all citizens of the country.

Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar said it was a historic day for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the entire country that a person with a commitment of uplifting the common man had assumed the office of the President.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ‘Naya Pakistan’ would be accomplished in full letter and spirit. He said focus would be on underprivileged areas of the province and the budget would be diverted for their uplift.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed hope that President Arif Alvi would fulfill his constitutional responsibilities for the betterment of the country regardless of his party affiliation.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Muhammad Qasim Khan Suri said it was a great day for Pakistan as a well-educated person was now at the helm of affairs and was fully abreast of the real problems of the people of Pakistan. He said the credit goes to Prime Minister Imran Khan for recognizing the struggle of Dr Alvi for the past 22 years for providing social justice to the people of Pakistan.

Minister for Planning and Development Khusro Bakhtiar said Dr Arif Alvi had a long history of struggle from the platform of PTI and the man truly represented the ideology of the party.

Minister-in-waiting for Privatisation Muhammad Mian Soomro said President Alvi would prove as an active president for the country and would take steps for the welfare of masses at large.

Senator Faisal Javed Khan said President Arif Alvi would be a dynamic head of the state and would support the PTI’s manifesto, particularly in the fields of health and education. He said the democracy today was stronger as all initial steps for the complete formation of the government by the PTI had completed.

He said the government can now focus on its 100-day agenda and move on to bring about fast track improvement in all sectors of the country. He said the government was steadily moving towards the objectives tasked to the new government by Prime Minister Imran Khan.