ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday explained to the cabinetmembers initiatives that he has personally taken for austerity, keeping inview the current economic challenges faced by the country and advised themto set an example for others by adopting simple lifestyle.
Briefing the media persons about cabinet decisions along with SpecialAssistant to Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar, SpecialAssistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr FirdousAshiq Awan said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has set an example ofausterity by saving 32 percent funds allocated for Prime Minister House inoutgoing budget.
She said that an amount of Rs 1.10 billion was allocated for PM House in2018-19 budget out of which Rs 750 million was spent which means 32 percent amount was saved.
Firdous Ashiq Awan said the media did not accurately report the amountallocated for Prime Minister House in the next budget.
She said that a section of media carried the news about increase in PMHouse budget in coming budget which was not correct and a contradiction wasissued.
She said that an amount of Rs 290 million earmarked for National Disastermanagement Authority was linked with the PM House which was incorrect andmisleading.
She said that for next fiscal year 13 per cent less allocation has beendone for the PM House expenses which shows that the PM was leading theausterity drive from the front. She also said that no family member of thePrime Minister was using the funds of the Prime Minster House.
She lamented that in the past entire Sharif family was involved in wastageof the funds allocated for PM House. She said that in 2014-15, Rs 860million were allocated for PM House, in 2015-16 Rs 1 billion, in 2016-17 Rs1.40 billion and in 2017-18 1.13 billion.
Moreover the utility bills of the PM House were paid by various otherdepartments and maintenance of the PM House was done by Pak PWD. She alsorevealed that the present government had to pay left over utility bills ofthe previous government.
She said that former rulers used public money for construction of securitywall and road of Raiwind palace and there were several camp offices of theformer prime minister.
Similarly Prime Minister’s plane was misused by the family of the thenprime minister. Not only his children and grand-children, but his brotherShahbaz Sharif who had a helicopter at his disposal as Chief MinisterPunjab also plundered Rs 340 million by using PM’s plane. She said thatShahbaz Sharif also wasted Rs 45 billion on his personal publicity.
She said the PM informed the cabinet, that he along with Foreign Ministerwould go to New York to attend United Nations General Assembly session andinstead of staying luxury hotel, they would stay in the house of PakistanAmbassador to save precious foreign exchange.
She said in the past entire Sharif family used to accompany the formerPrime Minister during his official foreign trips.
In 2015 not only Maryam Safdar, but also her daughter also accompanied himon the trip which was a proof that they misused national wealth forpersonal pleasure.
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She said the cabinet was informed that 157 Rest Houses of variousgovernment departments in addition to PTDC motels and NHA rest houses willalso be opened for public. She said that detailed briefing would be givenon commercialization of PTDC,NHA and other departments reset houses soon.
Criticizing the role of opposition in the National Assembly, she said theundue criticism by opposition on budget is illogical. She condemned thebesieging of NA Speaker at his chamber by the opposition and prerogativeof issuing production order lies with the Speaker of National Assembly andhe should see the merit of it.
The Special Assistant said no production order was issued for RailwaysMinister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad during the tenure of previous government,despite the fact that he had no criminal case against him.
The cabinet, Dr Firdous directed that glorification of crime should notbe allowed and Chief Ministers have been asked to discourage the giving ofprotocols to criminals in their court hearings as there was differencebetween political prisoners and criminals.
She said that the opposition teaches the government lessons of morality,but the Speaker Sindh Assembly who had been arrested in a corruption hasnot tendered resignation.
She informed the media that the cabinet formed the committee forformulation of a comprehensive sugar policy so that in future no subsidyshould be given to sugar export.
She said that soon farmers of sugar cane would be provided facilities sothat they can produce Gurr near their forms.
She said that for the first time agriculture has been included in ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor and a monitoring cell has been established in PMOffice to remove hurdles in implementation of these projects.
She said that the cabinet was also briefed over the online visa issuancescheme.
She said that on the issue of regularization of contract employees, thePrime Minister asked the ministries to prepare a databank so that thedecision about their regulations could be made after consolations.
The Prime Minister took the cabinet into confidence regarding upcomingvisit of Emir Qatar to Pakistan, she added.
Dr Firdous said that the cabinet was also informed on Amnesty and AssetDeclaration Ordinance that is going to expire on 30th of this month. It wasapprised that NADRA is setting up E-Facilitation Centers from 21st of thismonth at its various counters with the information of all the financialrecords and assets of individuals and any person can check his records inorder to avail the asset declaration scheme.
