PPP’s concerns about canals, Kurram crisis to be addressed: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Monday assured the PPP leadership of addressing their grievances over the canal projects, situation in Kurram district and other issues.

Shehbaz hosted the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and senior leaders of the party at an Iftar dinner at the Prime Minister House. The assurance from the prime minister came a few hours after President Asif Zardari in his address to the joint sitting of the parliament while particularly referring to the canals projects, complained that the government’s unilateral decisions were putting grave strains on the federation.

A statement issued by the PPP media wing controversial canals projects and law and order situation in Kurram district. The delegation also complained about provision of no relief to the flood-affected people in Balochistan.

“The prime minister assured the PPP leadership of addressing their reservations with regard to the controversial canals projects, situation in Kurram district and matters pertaining to the flood-affected people in Balochistan,” the PPP statement said.

A delegation of PPP led by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met Prime Minister at the PM House and expressed full trust in the government under his leader, a statement issued by the PM media wing said.

The prime minister praised the leadership of PPP for coming up to the expectations of people in four provinces and playing an active role while cooperating with the government for betterment in lives of the masses.

The prime minister emphasized that the federation, provinces and all the political parties would have to work jointly for the country’s bright future.

The statement said the members of the delegation paid tribute to the prime minister and his leadership for untiring efforts and government’s policies for economic stability in the country. The PPP leadership also thanked the prime minister for consulting government’s allies and taking them into confidence in government’s affairs.

The PPP leaders also assured the government of their full cooperation for the country’s economic progress and stability and bringing betterment in the lives of the masses.

The PPP delegation comprised Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi, Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, Syed Khurshid Shah, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Dr. Sherry Rehman and Syed Naveed Qamar.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Amir Muqam, Ahad Cheema, Rana Sanaullah and others represented the government.

APP adds: Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday directed the relevant ministries, State Bank of Pakistan and private partners to revisit the ongoing awareness drive on the Rs20 billion Ramazan Package to enhance its effectiveness and outreach and address the gap between disbursement and withdrawal.

The prime minister, during his visit to the National Telecommunication Corporation Headquarters to monitor the execution of the program, was told that around 2.8 million entitled accounts had been credited with Rs5,000 each and 683,000 of those had withdrawn the amount.

“As 94% of accounts had been established, the withdrawal ratio was just 22%. There is a big gap between disbursement and withdrawal which shows a lack of awareness among the people,” the prime minister remarked and also asked the SBP governor to join the campaign to make as many people as possible benefit from the program.

He appreciated the relevant ministries and partners for the construction and execution of this “comprehensive and wonderful” program and accepting the challenge of supporting the entitled deserving people during the holy month of Ramazan.

“This was a new concept to say goodbye to the Utility Stores forever due to the massive complaints of “worst” corruption of public money, which was also an injustice to the common man.

The issue of poor quality and corruption have been done away with through a new modern digital wallet,” he remarked.

The prime minister said four million families comprising over 20 million people from across the country would benefit from the program which was the first ever such initiative by the government to disburse the cash amount through a transparent mechanism without any issues of quality or transparency.

The provision of Rs5,000 to each family would enable the beneficiary family to purchase the commodities of their own choice, he added.

He said a validation system was a main component of the program, providing immediate correction of any mistake. Prime Minister Shehbaz also urged the people to call the program helpline 9999 to get their financial support without any delay.