ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday rejected the rumours regarding imposition of presidential system in the country.
During a meeting with senior journalists, the prime minister said that no thought has been put into any such idea.
Imran Khan said that the opposition was trying pressurize the government in order to obtain the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), adding that no one will get the NRO as the government believes in independent judiciary and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
“I do not care about my premiership but will not sign another national reconciliation ordinance (NRO).”
He said that the government would hold consultations with the opposition when it comes to legislation, as it is related to people not politics.
He further added that it is pertinent to see how much the opposition will cooperate with the government on tabled bills for legislation, as it is a matter of the public’s interest and is not related to politics.
To a question, the prime minister said that intelligence reports suggest that some members of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) have received funds from abroad.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan says radical changes are required in government regulations to facilitate investors and eliminate cumbersome procedures involved in doing businesses in the country.
Talking to former Malaysian Minister Idris Jala here in Islamabad on Friday, he said public-private partnership is being encouraged in all sectors so as to reduce the burden of expenditure on the government.
Idris Jala presented proposals for transforming and achieving successful results in the priority areas of the government’s development agenda including revenue, exports, investment, housing, digitization and tourism.
The Prime Minister appreciated the proposals and emphasized that the government is focusing on ease-of-doing-business to attract and facilitate investors.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the authorities concerned to ensure provision of essential commodities at fixed rates during Ramazan.
Chairing a meeting about Ramazan Package 2019 here on Friday, he said the administration officers must ensure their presence in the field and take immediate action against profiteers and hoarders.
The Prime Minister said Control Rooms should be set up at provincial level to monitor provision of essential commodities, electricity, gas and water during Ramazan so that administrative control could be made effective.
He said the concerned ministries and departments have been directed to ensure supply of gas, electricity and water in Sehar and Iftar timings besides maintaining peace during Ramazan.
Imran Khan said the government has realization of the difficulties of people and the government is making all out efforts to provide relief to people.
The Provincial Ministers and Secretaries concerned apprised the Prime Minister about the steps taken to ensure provision of daily-use commodities at fixed rates and check profiteering and hoarding during Ramazan.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that former finance minister Asad Umer will rejoin the federal cabinet.
The prime minister in his meeting with senior journalists in Islamabad said that more changes in the federal cabinet will be made in the coming days, adding that the ministers who would perform will be part of the federal cabinet and others will have to go.
“I will appoint honest and hardworking people when and from where ever I found,” he said.
To a question regarding inclusion of unelected people in the cabinet, Imran Khan said, “I need to show performance, adding that it doesn’t matter if someone is elected or unelected.” “Technical people are being included in the cabinet where there were no experts.”
The premier went on to say that former finance minister Asad Umar is an asset and he will be a part of the federal cabinet again. “I will attend the National Assembly session on Monday,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan received Dr. Bandar M.H. Hajjar, President Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and members of his delegation in his office on Friday.
The delegation is on a 3 day visit to Pakistan.
Welcoming the President and his delegation, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of the IsDB for member countries and Muslim communities worldwide.
He mentioned that the current government and the Bank shared the common goal of enabling the people to lead better lives and achieve their full potential.
The Prime Minister apprised President IsDB about commitment of his government for socio-economic uplift and highlighted the flagship initiatives of Government of Pakistan, namely “Ehsaas” and “Naya Pakistan Housing” aimed at social welfare and poverty alleviation.
The President IsDB expressed his appreciation of the Government policies for pursuing people centric growth policy.
The delegation briefed the Prime Minister of key programmes of IsDB in Pakistan and offered assistance in human development and economic stability of the country. IsDB also expressed support for the Government’s flagship “Ehsaas” program.
The Prime Minister appreciated the Bank’s long standing engagement with Pakistan and its support towards capacity building, Polio eradication and economic growth. He expressed the desire that the engagement between Pakistan and the Bank would expand further with more effective projects in years to come.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has appreciated the Islamic Development Bank’s long standing engagement with Pakistan and its support towards capacity building, polio eradication and economic growth.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned federal cabinet meeting on May 7 with 13 important matters on the agenda.
The cabinet meeting will be given a briefing regarding current educational system in the country.
According to the agenda, the meeting will endorse memorandums of understanding between Pakistan and Brazil about technical cooperation.
The cabinet will endorse decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in its last meeting. The meeting will approve summery to divide Ministry for Energy and Petroleum into two separate ministries.
Approval of an agricultural agreement with Azerbaijan, Labourer recruitment for Saudi Arabia, transfer and posting in Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment and other important decision would be taken in the meeting.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan summoned a meeting of government and party’s spokespersons in order to review the current political scenario of the country.
PM Khan summoned a meeting of governmental and party spokespersons to discuss future strategies of the ruling political party after the rejection of review petition by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif seeking an extension of bail on medical grounds from the Supreme Court.
Current economic situation of the country will also come under discussion during the meeting. – NNI