–Assures govt will not allow militancy on Pakistan’s soil, NAP to be implemented in spirit
–Govt to build two modern mobile hospitals, deploy four ambulances in country’s ‘least developed area’
–Promises benefits of coal reserves to Thar residents
–PM announces health package for 0.12m Thar families
CHACHRO: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that the government was in the process of eliminating militant hideouts from the country and it won’t allow terror outfits to breed on Pakistan’s soil in the true spirit of the National Action Plan (NAP).
He was addressing his first public rally in Tharparker after becoming the prime minister in August last year, where announced a health scheme for over 100,000 people as well.
The premier’s remarks come in the backdrop of a crackdown against the proscribe outfits, including Jammatud Dawa and Jaish-e-Mohammed, across the country. The government says that the clampdown is an implementation of NAP without any pressure from global powers.
However, Pakistan has only till June to satisfy the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) regarding its counter-terror measures. In addition to tensions with India after Pulwama, US has also called on the countries to rein in jihadi outfits.
The PM said Pakistan didn’t want to escalate tensions with India. “After becoming the prime minister, I called up Indian PM Modi to talk about rising poverty in the South Asian region and how both countries should try and resolve their issues,” he said alluding to his peace overtures.
“Pakistan wants peace in the region and this is the reason why we sent the captured Indian pilot back even after continued Indian aggression,” he said, adding India must know that Pakistan would give a befitting response to any future aggression.”
HEALTH CARDS FOR THARIS:
He also announced massive health package for the residents of Tharparkar under the ‘Insaf Health Card’ scheme, which is expected to benefit 112,000 families residing in the drought-stricken region.
Addressing the gathering, the prime minister, also the PTI chairman, said he chose Tharparkar for his visit as it was the least developed area of the country.
“The government is introducing the Sehat Insaf Card through which Rs720,000 will be made available per family,” he said, adding that two modern mobile hospitals and four ambulances would also be provided.
He sympathised with the people regarding the difficult life they live in the desert, but reminded them of the advantage of the sun that they have. With this, he announced that solar energy would be harnessed and used to power not only the aforementioned RO plants but provide electricity to all the villages throughout the district.
He pledged that the federal government will do all it can to uplift the people of Thar and ensure that they are given their due share.
“We will tell the Sindh government to fulfil their obligations and I assure you whatever the federal government is able to do, it will do for you all,” he vowed.
‘MINORITIES ARE IMPORTANT’:
The government is providing all facilities to minorities communities, particularly Hindus in contrast to the treatment meted out to minorities [Muslims, Christians and Dalits] in India, said Imran in his remarks on minorities in the country.
He said another reason behind his visit to Tharparkar was that almost half of the population there consists of Hindus and he wanted to let them know the government stands by them.
“I have come here today to tell you [that] my government stands in complete solidarity with our Hindu community. We will not tolerate any kind of injustice being done to them,” he promised.
He said Pakistan was founded due to the fact that Muslims, who were a minority in British India, were not getting their due rights.
Meanwhile, in continuation of its crackdown on the banned outfits under the under the National Action Plan (NAP), the government has taken control of five more religious seminaries in Karachi.
The countrywide action against these outfits was decided in a National Security Committee meeting in the aftermath of Pulwama attack which the Jaish-e-Mohammed, an outfit based in Pakistan, took credit for.
