- PM challenges opposition parties to bring no-confidence motion against him
BHAKKAR: Criticising the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT)-led rally, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Saturday said that despite the opposition’s Wednesday flopped power show in Lahore, they had set a new standard of cursing parliament even though they are struggling to gain a majority in the house.
The PM assured the gathering that the PML-N’s government would complete its term, as he dared the opposition parties to move a no-confidence motion against him in the National Assembly and dissolve their respective provincial assemblies if they are prepared to face the people’s decision in the next elections.
“Those who staged a ‘circus’ at the Mall in Lahore will come to know what the politics is when they will approach people after dissolving the provincial assemblies. People have not voted them to dissolve assemblies but for resolving national and public issues,” he said while addressing the launching ceremony of the PM’s Health Insurance Card in Punjab’s Bhakkar district.
He said: “The opposition have threatened to dissolve provincial assemblies to impede Senate elections. I have a clear message for those who curse parliament to dissolve assemblies, if anyone can. The people will give their response in the election, in July 2018.”
The prime minister also distributed health insurance cards that would allow people free medical treatment of up to Rs0.3 million from private hospitals. He said now the poor people would not have to take loans and sell out their belongings to support the medical treatment of their dear ones.
“Around 1.5 million families are benefiting from the health card scheme which is the brainchild of former PM Nawaz Sharif, who aimed at providing the medical facility to the poor on a par with the rich,” he said, vowing that the scheme would be launched in every district and region of the country.
The PM, who earlier launched work on a bridge to connect Bhakkar with DI Khan and Punjab with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said the project would cost Rs7 billion and complete in 18 months to reduce the distance of hours to minutes.
He said during last 65 years, only 580 kilometres long motorway was constructed and that too by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government but during the last five years, the government had extended the motorways network to 1,700 kilometres, besides other roads spanning 5,000 kilometres.
“Projects have also been set up to generate more than the power generated in last 65 years,” he claimed.
Gas is also available to all the consumers without interruption, and the gas supply network is also being expanded, according to PM, who announced that work on gas supply to Kalllur Kot and Darya Khan areas would start soon.
The PM announced naming the bridge after renowned politician late Zafarullah Khan. He also announced the establishment of Thal University in Bhakkar, besides approving the construction of three different roads in the area.
He announced a grant of Rs1 billion for the road and power projects in NA-73 and also assured development projects for nearby NA-74 during his visit to the constituency.
