RAWALPINDI: While admitting that people are faced with high inflation and increased power and gas tariffs in the country, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday held ‘wrong economic policies’ of the past governments responsible for the situation.

But tough times would be over soon as the government was fixing the entire system, Mr Khan assured the nation while addressing a ceremony to re-launch Mother and Child Hospital and Nursing Training Centre.

The PM explained that the government had to increase the gas and electricity tariffs to manage things. “Why do prices rise, I want to explain this to you. It is because power and gas sectors are indebted,” he said, adding that there were only two ways to tackle the debt: either to take more loans or increase the price of commodities.

Mr Khan said nations experienced ups and downs in their journeys. “Once the system is rectified, you will realise how blessed your country is. Be assured, tough days will be over... Pakistan will sail through difficult times and will emerge as a great nation,” he reiterated.

Imran blames past govt policies for high inflation

He asked the people to wait for some time as the government was working to improve the economic condition. Provision of basic facilities and resolving common people’s problems were the fundamental responsibility of the government, he said.

Mr Khan said the government was working to improve existing health facilities and establish new hospitals where needed. He said the government was committed to giving better healthcare facilities to the less privileged.

Praising the dedication of federal Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, PM Khan said work on the construction of the Mother and Child Hospital had been pending since 2005 and his railways minister got the work resumed.

The PM recalled the government had launched health insurance plan under which a family would get medical treatment at private or government hospitals for up to Rs720,000 charges. He said the government also started Ehsas programme to provide shelter homes to those without shelter.

Mr Khan said the government would start extending loan facility to the youth to encourage them to run their own businesses. He said goats, hens and cattle would be provided to poor families in villages.

He said the government was working on Naya Pakistan housing scheme to provide affordable living to the people. He said that a survey was being conducted to find the people who could not afford to construct house for themselves.

Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said Rs157 billion had been provided for 473 development projects in Rawalpindi division. He said Sehat Insaf Card scheme would also be introduced in Rawalpindi soon. He explained that a health card scheme had been launched in 18 districts of Punjab benefiting around 35 million people.

“The PTI government has the honour to introduce state-of-the-art projects including the gynae hospital under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan,” he said.

He said the cabinet had accorded approval to upgrade the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology as a cardiac and vascular diseases centre. Patients suffering from cardiac as well as paralysis diseases would benefit from the latest treatment facilities, he explained.

He said a ring road and a signal-free expressway would be constructed in Rawalpindi at the cost of Rs45billion and Rs70 billion, respectively. Besides, the Parks and Horticulture Authority was working on different projects to restore the original grandeur of Rawalpindi, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said Mother and Child Hospital would have 11 operating theatres for residents of Rawalpindi. He claimed he had established 60 education institutions for women in the city while 21-kilometre Leh Expressway would be launched soon.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2019