ISLAMABAD, Oct 24 (APP): Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Prof Ahsan Iqbal said on Monday that to make the state
dysfunctional by bring people on roads was undemocratic and fascism.
“As the matter of off shore companies was subjudice, there was no room for settling political issues on the streets,” he said while addressing participants of ‘Qaumi Yakjehti Conference’ organized by Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) here.
Head of JUI (F) Maulana Fazal ur Rehman, Amir, Jamat e Islami, Maulana Siraj ul Haq, Head of MQM Pakistan, Farooq Sattar and leaders of PPP and ANP, and President and Secretary General of CPNE also addressed.
Ahsan Iqbal said, the issue of Panama Leak was being heard by the Supreme Court of Pakistan and setting a court on road was illegal.
He said, there was an urgent need to make the country politically and economically strong by setting aside irresponsible politics.
The Minister said, “Allah Almighty has given us several opportunities in shape of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and we have to move forward with unity for its completion.”
The entire world was terming the CPEC a game changer and it had enhance the confidence of world institutions, he added.
Ahsan Iqbal said the world media had also termed Pakistan an emerging economy but Imran Khan wanted a crash landing of Pakistan economy, but people would not allow him to do so.
He said, the operation Zarb e Azb was progressing successfully
and terrorists were on the run who were challenging the state a few
years ago. Peace and political stability was pre requisite for taking the fight against terrorism to its logical end, he added.
Ahsan Iqbal said people had rejected Imran Khan’s stance during general election in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and in the by elections as well.
He said nobody would be allowed to play with the economic future of the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief of JUI(F), Maulana Fazal ur Rehman said the country need unity and solidarity and importance of constitutions, parliament and national institutions should be
upheld.
“We have to prove unity and solidarity through our behaviour,” he added.Maulana Fazal ur Rehman said, the media should play a positive role for forging unity and harmony among the politicians keeping in view the supreme national interest.
He said, India had been committing grave atrocities against innocent people in occupied Kashmir by killing and injuring them indiscriminately.
The Indian troops were resorting to unprovoked firing on Line of Control (LOC) but national solidarity was damaged by a party by
boycotting important joint session of the parliament.
He said, all the institutions should play their role within the framework of constitution.
Terming the country a home, he said, peace and economic stability could save it adding, the elected government should be allowed to complete its constitutional term and political parties should wait for the general election for the change.
Amir Jamat e Islami, Siraj ul Haq said, the supremacy of law,constitution and merit should be ensured.
He said, Pakistan was bestowed with natural resources which should be equally distributed among the people.
He said, Kashmiris struggling for the right of self determination in occupied Kashmir were looking at their Pakistani brethren.
“It is our duty to highlight Kashmir issue and help our Kashmiri brethren,” he added.
PPP Leader Sherry Rehman said, the history had thrown such
nations into darkness which had failed to forge unity among their
ranks.
She said, the country had been facing challenges and it was duty of the every citizen to save the homeland.
She said, China was a friendly country and transparent implementation of CPEC was in the interest of the country.
Head of MQM Pakistan, Farooq Sattar said, the national solidarity was must due to internal and external challenges.
All the political parties should devise a national agenda by setting aside their political differences, he added.
He said, all the obstacles on the way of unity and solidarity should be removed.
ANP Leader, Afrasiab Khattak said, the terms of reference to resolve issue of off shore companies should be settled through dialogue.
He said, the political issues should be settled in the parliament and political parties should avoid taking them on roads.
He said, “The situation on Eastern and Western borders demand
us to forge unity among our ranks.”
Former Deputy Chairman Senate, Wazir Jogezai said, the
implementation of constitution in letter and spirit besides supremacy of parliament was must for the federation.
President, CPNE, Zia Shahid said, the government should spend
more for the provision of health facilities and education.
Secretary General, CPNE, Ejaz ul Haq asked the political parities to resolve their difference through dialogue.
Senior Columnist, Ikram Sehgal said, all the pressure was due
to CPEC adding, Pakistan would emerge as a strong country after
successful implementation of CPEC.
Mujeeb ur Rehman Shami said, the Panama Leak issue was with
the Supreme Court and we should wait for its verdict.
He said, CPNE would not remain a silent spectator in protecting the constitution.
Columnist Imtiaz Alam said, the Supreme Court had admitted the
petition regarding Panama Leak.
He said, there was a need to cool down political polarization and matter should not be settled on the roads.Highlighting Pakistan’s economic growth, the IMF chief said this could be done by promoting private investment, strengthening exports, and raising productivity.
Private investment in Pakistan, she maintained, today accounted for
only 10 per cent of the economy while in emerging markets the average was about 18 per cent.
“Pakistan’s exports are about 10 per cent of GDP while emerging
markets’ exports are nearly four times as high,” she added.
“So here too, Pakistan can do better”, she said adding higher public
investment in infrastructure could help.
For instance, she said continuing support for projects under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would not only promote growth and job creation, but would also facilitate regional integration.
Another way to boost growth, she said was by improving the business
climate by strengthening governance and enabling the private sector to thrive.
She said although direct social and economic losses were difficult to
measure, even a perception of corruption deters private investment and impedes efforts to promote sustainable and inclusive growth.
“Increasing transparency and accountability and removing red tape
can help, for example, it still takes Pakistani companies much too long
to figure out their tax forms. That time could be spent much more efficiently on pursuing business opportunities,” she remarked.
She stressed on simplifying procedures to open new businesses,
enforce contracts, and pay taxes which could go a long way in promoting growth.
At the same time, she said the energy sector reform needed to be
completed.
“All in all, I see enormous upside potential. IMF studies show that
improving Pakistan’s business environment to the average of, say, the
Middle East and North Africa region could increase growth by 1.5
percentage points per year,” she remarked.
Stressing to make growth more inclusive, she said increasing access
to education was crucial, especially in Pakistan where youth comprised
about 60 per cent of the population.
“IMF research suggests that improvements in education have contributed importantly to reducing income inequality within countries,”
she added.
Currently, she said education outcomes in Pakistan remained weak and
“one out of every 12 children in the world that does not attend school
lives in Pakistan.”
“I am aware that access to education is a key concern for the Pakistani citizen, a point brought across when I met with Malala Yousafzai,” she added.
Bolstering public investment in education from 2.5 per cent of GDP
to emerging market average around 4 per cent of GDP, she said would be essential to prepare the workforce with the necessary skills and make Pakistan more competitive on the global market.
“This is a moment of opportunity for Pakistan. The spark to continue
transforming Pakistan’s economy into a dynamic, vibrant, and integrated emerging market that is able to create sustainable jobs and prosperity for all exists among Pakistan’s people and policymakers. We look forward to working with all of you to make it happen,” she added.
