DUE to increasing unemployment, the majority of young people in our country are facing great problems. …Prolonged outages of electricity and gas have maximised joblessness in the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, because investors have closed industries down and sacked workers. The new directives given by Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf may prove a ray of hope. …[He] said that the government was well aware of the people’s problems and would take drastic steps to overcome them. He directed the officials concerned to bring the energy crisis under control and devise a plan for overcoming poverty and improving socioeconomic conditions….

The prime minister said that the government is determined to give full attention to the timely completion of mega projects such as the Chashma Right Bank Canal. The government is to give attention to the improvement of the agricultural sector which can be developed as an alternate source of employment due to closure of industries. [This will] facilitate jobless people and increase the production of different crops…. The mere announcement of mega projects is not enough; the government should ensure implementation of its decisions. …[H]eads of different departments and … cabinet members should focus on early completion and the maintenance of quality work….

It is good news that work on some of the most significant projects is about to be completed. … In order to ensure the early completion of such mega projects, the government should regularly monitor the pace and quality of work. If the government works sincerely … it can gain the nation’s sympathies and overcome problems.—(Oct 25)

Selected and translated by Ali Hazrat Bacha.