PM says vote-purchase out of question in Western parliaments

SOHAWA/ISLAMABAD   –  Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday terming education vital for national development said preparing a lot of knowledgeable and talented youth with moral strength was need of the hour.

Addressing at Al Qadir University, he emphasised on an education system that acted as means of self-development and a source of bringing positive change in the society.

The prime minister, two years ago, had laid the foundation-stone of the university in name of great saint of sub-continent Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, with an objective to make the institution a cradle of science and spirituality.

Imran Khan said knowledge was the main element that distinguished between humans and animal species, and emphasised on the significance of literacy meeting the needs of both contemporary world and the hereafter. He stressed academic research at university with a purpose to benefit the humanity and said it was time to prepare the youth adopt best learning practices of international standards to acquire knowledge.

He said he wanted to transform the system of Al Qadir University similar to that of Egypt’s Al Azhar University, a prestigious institution of the world. He desired introduction of scholarships for hardworking and brilliant students at Al Qadir University to help them carry out studies and contribute to development of country. Besides taking inspiration from the West in technological development, he said, there were several aspects of their culture such as truth and honesty that merited replication. He mentioned that the corrupt practice of vote-purchase, as recently seen in Pakistan polls, was out of question for the western leadership and parliaments. Earlier, the prime minister planted a sapling in the premises of Al Qadir University.

Gas tariff for next few months

Also, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday directed to maintain the gas tariff for next few months in order to provide relief to the consumers.

Chairing a review meeting on the prices of flour, sugar and other essential commodities, the prime minister called for intensifying efforts to facilitate the common man, particularly belonging to the lower class.

Federal ministers including Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Mohammad Hammad Azhar, Syed Fakhr-e-Imam, Omar Ayub and Asad Umar; Special Assistants Nadeem Babar, Dr Waqar Masood and Tabish Gohar, former finance minister Shaukat Tareen, federal secretaries and senior officials attended the meeting. 

The meeting discussed issues regarding stability of the prices of essential commodities, particularly of flour, and the measures to reduce the prices of sugar, gas and petrol. The prime minister was given a briefing on the prices of petroleum products in international market.

PM’s Special Assistant on Petroleum Nadeem Babar mentioned that the gas prices were raised on July 1, 2019, and now the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) had again recommended six to seven percent increase in its tariff. The prime minister directed his economic team to ensure stability of the flour prices till the government introduced the Targeted Subsidy Scheme.

He said a comprehensive programme was under consideration for provision of direct subsidy on flour to the poor people. The subsidy was aimed at providing financial relief to the weaker sections.

He stressed on timely import of wheat through public and private means as per the government decisions keeping in view the future needs. The prime minister was briefed on the proposed measures to bring down the price of sugar. The meeting was informed that under the Ramazan relief package, Rs 7 billion had been approved for provision of commodities at subsidized rates.

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said, there were several aspects of their culture such as truth and honesty that merited replication. He mentioned that the corrupt practice of vote-purchase, as recently seen in Pakistan polls, was out of question for the western leadership and parliaments. Earlier, the prime minister planted a sapling in the premises of Al Qadir University.

Gas tariff for next few months

Also, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday directed to maintain the gas tariff for next few months in order to provide relief to the consumers.  Chairing a review meeting on the prices of flour, sugar and other essential commodities, the prime minister called for intensifying efforts to facilitate the common man, particularly belonging to the lower class. Federal ministers including Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Mohammad Hammad Azhar, Syed Fakhr-e-Imam, Omar Ayub and Asad Umar; Special Assistants Nadeem Babar, Dr Waqar Masood and Tabish Gohar, former finance minister Shaukat Tareen, federal secretaries and senior officials attended the meeting.  The meeting discussed issues regarding stability of the prices of essential commodities, particularly of flour, and the measures to reduce the prices of sugar, gas and petrol. The prime minister was given a briefing on the prices of petroleum products in international market.  PM’s Special Assistant on Petroleum Nadeem Babar mentioned that the gas prices were raised on July 1, 2019, and now the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) had again recommended six to seven percent increase in its tariff. The prime minister directed his economic team to ensure stability of the flour prices till the government introduced the Targeted Subsidy Scheme. He said a comprehensive programme was under consideration for provision of direct subsidy on flour to the poor people. The subsidy was aimed at providing financial relief to the weaker sections. He stressed on timely import of wheat through public and private means as per the government decisions keeping in view the future needs.