–PM tells bureaucrats not to be scared of NAB if they haven’t done anything ‘wrong’
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the Electric Motor Vehicle Policy, as Prime Minister Imran Khan directed his economic team to formulate strategies that could ensure job creation and youth empowerment.
Expressed satisfaction on the overall state of “improving” economy during a cabinet meeting, the PM directed the cabinet members to ensure the development projects go ahead without any obstacles for the economic uplift of the country.
During the meeting, the PM reiterated that the government would not back away from reforms agenda “as it is agenda for the development and progress of Pakistan”. “The government wants to transform challenges into opportunities,” he added.
Briefing the reporters in Islamabad after the cabinet meeting, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the prime minister has also ordered all ministries to ensure timely completion public sector development projects in the next three months.
“The PM will personally monitor the progress of ministries so that decisions are made on time and red-tapism is avoided,” she said, adding that the PM would hold meetings with all federal secretaries after the cabinet meeting.
She said the prime minister apprised the cabinet of the prevalent political situation, saying that all economic indicators are on a positive trajectory.
The special assistant maintained that the reform agenda of the incumbent government was being resisted by the status quo people who do not want change in the system.
Economic Affairs Minister Hammad Azhar briefed the cabinet about the improving economic indicators, while Advisor to PM on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain apprised the cabinet on the new local government system.
‘NO NEED TO FEAR NAB’:
Meanwhile, the prime minister also chaired a meeting of the federal secretaries, wherein he directed them to remove red tapes so that the uplift project could be resumed.
“I want development projects to start, as the country’s economy is on the right track now and all the indicators were showing a positive trend,” a senior bureaucrat told Pakistan Today after the meeting.
The source said that the prime minister also directed them not to “worry” if they have not done anything “wrong”.
He said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) would not harass them if they were not involved in corrupt practices.
“I would guarantee that the NAB would not hound the bureaucrats anymore. The poor are suffering due to this fear of NAB as development works have come to a halt,” he added.
The source said that the prime minister was upbeat about the prospects of the country’s economic revival and he told the senior bureaucrats that there would be no monitoring of development projects.
