Pakistanis ‘on one page’ in seeking friendship with India: Imran
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday his government and the military want to mend ties with India, in the latest bid to improve relations between the nucleararmed neighbours.
“I, the prime minister, my political party, the rest of our political parties, our army, all our institutions are all on one page. We want to move forward,” Imran said in a speech to open a new border crossing with India in Punjab province.
“If India takes one step forward then we will take two steps forward toward friendship,” he said.
Pakistan’s chief of army staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, was among the dignitaries at the inauguration ceremony.
Bajwa called the laying of the foundation for the crossing a “step toward peace, which our region needs.”
Imran said Pakistan would take two steps if India would take one for peace between the two countries.
“We still do not have the resolve to decide that, no matter what, we must improve our ties,” he said. “France and Germany, who have fought so many wars, are now living as neighbours. They have trade ties despite killing thousands of each other’s people. But their leaders one day decided that we will break their shackles and they did.”
The new crossing point, which will officially open next year, is about 120-km north of the Pakistani city of Lahore and will be used by Sikh pilgrims coming from India on a visa-free basis to visit holy sites in Pakistan.
“Pakistan and India cannot understand the opportunities God has given us. Whenever I visited India for conferences, I was told that politicians are united, but the army won’t allow for friendship,” the prime minister claimed.
He stated that he was saying today that “our political leaders, our army, and all other institutions are all on one page. We wish to move forward, we want a civilised relationship. We have just one problem, Kashmir. If man can walk on the moon, what problems are there that we cannot resolve?”
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will apprise the nation about the government’s performance during its irst 100 days in ofice on Thursday.
He will speak about the progress made vis-a-vis targets set by him after coming to power.
Imran has reviewed the Pti-led government’s performance at a meeting. His Adviser on Establishment Mohammad Shahzad Arbab briefed the meeting on the six-pronged 100day plan.
He apprised the prime minister of the targets achieved so far as well as future milestones. The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the achievements made under the plan and approved it after a thorough review.
The 100-day plan mainly focused on six points — transforming governance, strengthening the federation, revitalising economic growth, developing agriculture and conserving water, revolutionising social service and ensuring national security.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Coca Cola Company Pakistan and bottling partners Coca-cola Içecek Turkey, led by regional director from Turkey Orhun Kostem, called on the prime minister and briefed him on the company’s existing investment of $500 million in Pakistan and future plans of $200m investment over the next two to three years that would create new jobs, support ancillary industries and help the government earn incremental revenue through taxes.
Khan assured the delegation of all possible support in taking advantage of investment-friendly policies of the present government. The delegation also discussed issues related to taxes and black economy that hamper industry’s growth.