CM says PTI’s pro-people policies attracting masses

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has claimed the unique style of pro-people governance of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government has attracted masses and rendered the traditional leaders irrelevant on the political landscape.

He was addressing different jirgas and delegations at the Chief Minister’s House, said an official handout on Wednesday.

Political workers from different parties announced joining the PTI on the occasion.

The chief minister reiterated the call for fresh elections in the country as there was no government visible at the federal level. He believed the situation prevailing in the country warranted an early election. He claimed PTI had emerged the sole political force to get majority seats in the coming election.

He warned against any delay in the merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The chief minister said Fata’s merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been advocated by all political forces, except a few who had own interest to the existing system in Fata.

Pervez Khattak said Peshawar’s Rapid Bus Transit (BRT) would be completed within the stipulated period. The government machinery has already been sensitised.

Comparing the BRT with other similar facilities in Punjab, he said the Peshawar facility would have some unique features with less structural cost.

He said his government was about to start paying stipend to prayer leaders of mosques, making them independent to look after their families so that they could not be exploited by religio-political forces on one pretext or the other.

The chief minister said irrelevant forces were propagating against the “pro-people” initiatives of his government.

Pervez Khattak enumerated about his government mega projects said the ‘billion tree tsunami’ would bring greenery as previously this province suffered mass scale deforestation by the timber mafia.

He said the Swat Motorway, which was the first-ever motorway being constructed by a province, would open up the entire Malakand to tourists, adding different mega road communication projects would integrate the whole the province.

The chief minister compared his governance with others, adding when he took over, there were problems everywhere in the province which his government identified and then resolved.

He talked about his efforts against the unnecessary political intervention in public sector institutions that started delivery in consonance with the people’s aspirations.

Pervez Khattak said it was PTI chief Imran Khan who gave vision for the facilitation of agenda of change and those who were the real beneficiaries and the poor segment of the society were feeling that change.