Pak PM will not use protocol, security for private functions
The move aims to save taxpayer’s money, says PM, adding that ‘I am also reviewing protocol and security for ministers, governors and CMS to decide how we can cut expenditure and end public inconvenience’
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said that he would no longer be going to any private function with protocol and security in order to save taxpayer money and avoid inconvenience to the public.
The prime minister said that he was also reviewing the protocol and security available to ministers, governors and chief ministers belonging to the Pakistan Tehrik-e-insaf (PTI) “to decide how we can minimise expenditure and end public inconvenience.”
“To save taxpayer money & avoid inconvenience to the public I will not be going to any private function with protocol & security. I am also reviewing protocol & security for ministers, governors & PTI CMS to decide how we can minimise expenditure & end public inconvenience,” Imran tweeted.
The prime minister said that the federal cabinet will decide on a comprehensive policy in this regard next week.
“Next week Cabinet will decide on a comprehensive policy in this regard. We will put an end to the colonial legacy of pomp & glory used to overwhelm the people,” he added.
In May, Imran had made a surprise visit to different public places in the capital without any security and protocol.
Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that work has been initiated on regular talks with the disgruntled Baloch youth following the announcement of the prime minister.
On Monday, Imran announced that he was considering talking to insurgents in Balochistan, saying that the government would never have had to worry about insurgency in the province if atention had been paid to its development.
He inaugurated the Gwadar Free Zone, spread at 2,200 acres, Expo Centre, Agriculture Industrial Park, and three factories and also witnessed the signing of various Memorandums of Understanding (Mous) aimed at constructing a state-of-the-art hospital, airport, and vocational institute. He also addressed a gathering of local elders, students and business leaders.
The prime minister said that he had always thought that when the PTI came to power, the government would pay atention to Balochistan because when the province progressed and there was peace, Balochistan’s people would own the province and say “we should also fight for it because it thinks of our basic needs and problems.”
Addressing a press briefing ater federal cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Chaudhry said that the cabinet congratulated the police and other concerned officials for exposing the network behind Lahore bombing.
The minister said, “We will soon uncover more evidence and fabrications of this terrorist network, adding that the main culprits involved in the bombing have been arrested. Ater Kulbhushan Jadhav, India s largest network was exposed.”
Chaudhry said that the PTI government wants to give the right to vote to the overseas Pakistanis and in this regard, the report of the previous meetings was presented to the cabinet, adding that Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz briefed the cabinet on electronic voting machines.
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar said on Tuesday that Chinese investors have expressed their willingness to invest in South Balochistan project.
Briefing the media, the minister said that the Chinese investors would invest over $1 billion in this project.
He said that the South Balochistan project was 35 times bigger than the Phase-1 of North free zone of Gwadar, adding that the Imran had announced this historical package in November for Balochistan.
Also during the day, security forces shot five suspected militants to death on Monday during a raid on their hideout near Pakistan’s southwestern city of Queta, a spokesman for a counter-terrorism department said.
In a brief statement, it said there was an exchange of gunfire during the raid and officers seized weapons from the militant hideout ater the successful operation.
Queta is the capital of Balochistan province, which has been the scene of frequent militant atacks and a long-running insurgency by small separatist groups that seek independence for the mineral- and gas-rich province bordering borders Iran and Afghanistan.