ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan on\u00a0Tuesday\u00a0told the federal ministries that \u201cit is the time\u201d to deliver their best and address the challenges facing the country by prioritising and channelising the issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is no excuse for the government for any lack of experience. It is the time to deliver,\u201d the prime minister said as he inked a \u2018Performance Agreement of Ministries for the Year 2020-21\u2019 with his cabinet members here at a signing ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Performance Agreement is aimed at pacing up the working of federal ministries for overall improved governance. The prime minister warned that the persons found responsible for red-tapism in ministries, particularly in case of projects beneficial to the country, would be penalised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The federal ministers, sitting side by side with the prime minister, separately signed the agreement, pledging to meet the set targets while implementing the government\u2019s agenda of economic prosperity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imran Khan counted power generation, subsidies, inflation, exports, food security, pension system and agriculture as the \u201cmajor challenges\u201d requiring action on urgent basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will prioritise every sector or area having the potential to generate revenue,\u201d he said. Terming the power sector the \u201cmost complicated and complex challenge\u201d, he said efforts were needed for its rationalisation and synchronisation to address the problem of circular debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On subsidies, the prime minister said managing the huge financial burden of Rs 2,500 billion was a real challenge. He endorsed the subsidies for the purpose of wealth creation or benefit of the under-privileged, however, opposed an across-the-board facility for the affluent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We need to review system for better performance<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister said the hefty amount of pensions in lieu of federal and provincial public departments was another \u201cliability\u201d that required an effective and affordable system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He mentioned the pension scheme proposed by Dr Ishrat Hussain under Civil Service Reforms, which was based on Malaysia\u2019s Dr Mahathir formula of \u2018pensions converted into savings\u2019. He said including the subjects of food security and environment in the provincial list under the18th Constitutional Amendment made it difficult to meet the goals due to lack of coordination among the Centre and the provinces. Talking about problems emerged after transfer of powers and shifting of various subjects to provinces under 18th Amendment, Imran Khan said we need to review the system for better performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said a province, which did not release the wheat stock, put an undue blame on the Centre for an overall price inflation of the commodity. The prime minister said increase in agricultural productivity was vital and mentioned that Pakistan was adopting techniques from China under transfer of agri-technology linked with the Economic Corridor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the economy had made a remarkable turnaround in two years with current account witnessed in surplus for the last consecutive five months. \u201cTo ensure continuity of positive economic indicators, it is important to identify the pitfalls in advance,\u201d he said. Imran Khan lauded his Special Assistant on Establishment Mohammed Shehzad Arbab for the initiative of Performance Agreement of ministries, which would ensure good governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen we [the PTI] came into power, it took us three months to understand things,\u201d a private TV channel quoted PM as saying. \u201cWe\u2019re gradually learning things [even now].\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The premier said it was his habit to look at everything in his life to see what could be done better or improved. \u201cWe have two-and-a-half years left to take the government\u2019s performance forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter all, the public has to decide after five years whether we made their lives better or not; whether we fulfilled the promises made to them or not,\u201d he said, stressing that governance could not be delivered unless all ministries performed individually.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan on\u00a0Tuesday\u00a0told the federal ministries that \u201cit is the time\u201d to deliver their best and address the challenges facing the country by prioritising and channelising the issues. \u201cThere is no excuse for the government for any lack of experience. It […]<\/p>\n
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