Long term planning, self-dependence inevitable for country’s uplift: PM

ISLAMABAD (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday said that economic self-dependence and long-term planning were inevitable for country’s development as country had suffered in the past owing to short term approach of the previous government.

Addressing the launching ceremony of a docu-daram “Pani Ke Pankh” to highlight the realigned policies of the government to ensure water security as part of Sustainable Development Goals.

Federal Ministers Shibili Faraz, Faisal Vawda, Omar Ayub, Dr Shireen Mazari, Senator Faisal Javed and Chairman Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Lt. General (Retd) Muzammil Hussain attended the event besides project team members including Singer Atif Aslam, Zonaira Azhar and others.

A production of JB production, the docu-drama exhibited the revival and importance of hydro power in Pakistan particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which had suffered the most in war against terrorism.

The prime minister said the previous governments executed short term projects just to attract votes by cutting ribbons within their tenures which dragged the country behind.

He said the developed countries like China planned 10 to 20 years ahead of time while in Pakistan, the previous governments executed short term projects and spent billions of rupees on their promotion to win the next election.

He said due to the very reasons, the hydro power projects were not executed despite immense potential of 70,000 megawatt in the country rather the governments signed exorbitant contracts to supply the costliest electricity in the subcontinent.

He said under the contracts, the government had to pay capacity payment even without consuming the electricity. Under the head Rs 180 billion were paid in 2019, Rs 500 billion by the incumbent government and the amount would swell to Rs 1500 billion by 2023.

He said after 50 years, the government launched work on Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dams to increase power production, conserve water and thus uplift the agriculture sector.

Moreover, the new dams would also supply clean energy which was crucial to fight climate change as Pakistan was among the most nine vulnerable countries in the world.

The prime minister said the country’s industry had been performing well till 60s by getting low cost electricity but the situation started deteriorating since 90s and worsened during 2008-18 which he called the “decade of darkness.”

Rubbishing the opposition’s propaganda of excessive loans taken by the government, the prime minister explained that the total debt swelled by Rs 11,000 billion from Rs 25,000 to Rs 36,000 billion. Out of Rs 11,000 billion, Rs 6,000 billion went to pay the mark up of the loans obtained by the previous government, Rs 3,000 were the impact of dollar appreciation from Rs 105 to Rs 160 during the current government. Out of rest Rs2,000 billion, Rs800 billion were used to bridge the reduced tax collection due to COVID-19 and rest amount was utilized to give relief packages by the government.

The prime minister advised against the approach of appeasing others to improve country’s image rather he said economic self dependence was the only key to earn respect in the comity of nations. The nations surviving on others’ support and loans could never earn dignity, he added.

The prime minister said the first blunder was to join the US-led war against terrorism after 9/11 which inflicted huge loss to the country.

He said the country could only survive when the people paid taxes to enable the government run state affairs like extending education and health facilities to the masses.

Imran Khan said the country was rich with huge potential and all what needed was to boost confidence in own capabilities.

Appreciating the docu-drama, the prime minister urged the local artists to produce more such works assuring government’s all out support. Recalling the golden era of Pakistan’s showbiz industry, the prime minister said it downed after the industry started selling coped Indian content, losing its worth along with the originality.

The prime minister appreciated the WAPDA chairman for taking on the challenge of Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dams’ construction and said once completed, his services would be remembered forever.