NOWSHERA, May 20: Federal Minister for Communications Babar Khan Ghauri criticized the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal for what he termed "double standards", saying that certain anti-Pakistan forces were hatching conspiracies to stall the country's march towards economic stability.

He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the recently constructed bridge over the Indus River at Khairabad here on Thursday. The ceremony was held at the Azad Kashmir Regimental Centre auditorium at Manser cantonment in the Attock district.

Mr Ghauri said that the prevailing situation required all the provinces to forge unity to foil the enemy's designs. The minister said that the present government had decided to lay a road network across the country, adding that the Khairabad bridge would bring economic prosperity to the people of Punjab and the NWFP.

He said that the bridge would also prove to be of immense importance to link Pakistan with Afghanistan and the Central Asian Republics. Ghauri said that the present government had taken the Lowari Tunnel project out of the cold storage, adding that work on this gigantic project would begin soon.

Those who were present on this occasion included MNAs Malik Allah Yar Khan, Malik Aslam, Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, Mohammad Usman, NWFP Assembly Deputy Speaker Ikramullah Shahid, Federal Communications Secretary Iftikhar Rashid, NHA Chairman Maj-Gen Farrukh Javed, Sachal Construction Company MD Abdul Karim and others.

Later, talking to reporters, the minister said that inquiry into the recent violent incidents in Karachi had been initiated, adding that action would be taken in the light of the inquiry report.

He said that certain anti-state elements were behind the ugly incidents, urging the patriotic forces to join hands to foil the nefarious designs.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.