Imran losing popularity due to ‘container policy’: Rana Tanveer

Science, Technology and Defence Production Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain on Monday said the national economic indicators had turned positive due to well thought out policies of the incumbent government and indicated that further growth would be seen during the next two financial years.

Talking to media at University of Management and Technology, he said that a nation cannot develop without having political stability and cited the examples of Singapore, China, Turkey and Korea which followed their set direction for years with political firmness and zeal.

To a question, he said, “Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chief Imran Khan should do positive politics for strengthening institutions, as his popularity is decreasing day by day, largely due to PTI’s container policy.”

The minister said that the government was thoroughly looking into all the statements of MQM’s Chief Altaf Hussain, adding that it is the mandate of Supreme Court to ban any political party.

To another question he said, Sheikh Rashid desires to join Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, but he starts hatching conspiracies against the government when his wish is not fulfilled.

He stressed that it is the responsibility of the nation to identify well wishers of the country and those people who have always tried to obstruct progress and development prospects through protests and sit-ins. Tanveer said there was a slump in the export sector in international markets, but assured that Pakistan would achieve its export target of $35 billion by 2018. Earlier, addressing a workshop on ‘Organic Food and Health: Avenues of Innovation and Entrepreneurship’ arranged by Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST) at the UMT, Tanveer said that his ministry was committed to supporting every effort for the promotion of scientific awareness. He stated that organic foods have the potential to improve public health profile in the country, adding that their promotion and consumption could alleviate poverty due to the creation of large-scale employment opportunities for unskilled and semi-skilled labour. He stressed the importance of consuming organic foods due to their positive role in addressing health challenges posed by urban lifestyle and growing stress in modern life.