Imran hints at another cabinet shuffle – Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan hinted on Monday some changes in the federal cabinet after some leaders, during a meeting of the Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary party in Pakistan, complained about the "lack of cooperation" of some ministers when addressing grievances

The meeting, co-chaired by Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at the House of Parliament, also discussed Khan's recent visit to the United States and the speech at the UN General Assembly where he successfully raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir .

The Foreign Minister informed the meeting about the Kashmir problem and Pakistan's position at the session of the United Nations General Assembly, while the Prime Minister presented a review on what could happen if the situation worsened between Pakistan and India on the topic of Kashmir.

Speaking to Dawn, the top PTI leader and former finance minister Asad Umar said the prime minister had hinted at his [Mr Umar’s] Return to the cabinet. "When I informed the Prime Minister that I have enough time but that I have no work to do, he said that they would assign me a new task very soon," Mr. Umar added.

Asad Umar says that PM will give him a new assignment; MNA affirms at the PTI parliamentary party meeting that it was reprimanded for raising the issue of inflation in the National Assembly

He said the prime minister did not announce any specific changes in the cabinet during the meeting. "What the media reports about the large-scale reorganization in the cabinet was not announced," he added.

A source said that when one of the MNA complained that the ministers did not heed their complaints about people's problems, the prime minister expressed his dissatisfaction and said that "those who do not deliver will be removed."

Umar confirmed that some of the party leaders had complained about the lack of cooperation from federal ministers. "It is a normal complaint that is usually made in such party meetings," he added.

According to media reports, the portfolios of some federal ministers such as Shafqat Mehmood, Zubeda Jalal, Ijaz Shah, Fawad Chaudhry, Firdous Ashiq Awan and Nadeem Afzal Chan could change. PTI leader Babar Awan is likely to gain an important position in the government.

It was also reported that Prime Minister Khan rebuked PTI legislator Noor Alam Khan for giving a speech at the National Assembly recently about the price increase.

When he was contacted, Noor Alam said the prime minister was not happy with him for raising the issue of inflation on the floor of the National Assembly on September 16. He quoted the prime minister as saying: "Have you ever spoken against the government when [Noor Alam] they were in the Popular Party of Pakistan. "

Alam said he asked the prime minister who had always talked about the evils of the government when he was in the PPP. "I asked the prime minister to verify the history of the National Assembly and discover that he had always raised my voice on public affairs during the PPP regime," he added.

The MNA, which joined the ruling PTI shortly before the 2018 general elections, said that every time a party came to power it always complained about the shortage of reserves and that the national treasury was empty. "I am a public representative and, therefore, I will continue to raise the issues facing the common man and the farmers," he added.

He said he did not want to become a member of the federal cabinet and would continue to indicate inappropriate government measures, if any.

Public meeting

The PTI announced that Prime Minister Khan would address a public meeting in Skurdu on October 4 at which he would give a roadmap for development in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The prime minister also chaired a separate meeting of his economic team and emphasized that industrial development was vital for economic growth and job creation.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Economic Affairs, Hammad Azhar, the Minister of Planning and Development, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, the Minister of Energy, Omar Ayub Khan, the advisers to the Prime Minister, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Abdul Razak Dawood and Dr. Ishrat Hussain, the special assistants of the Prime Minister, Dr. Sania Nishtar, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Nadeem Babar and Yousaf Baig Mirza and the Chairman of the Board of Investment Syed Zubair Haider Gillani.

Shaukat Tareen, the president of the National Disaster Management Authority, Lieutenant General Mohammad Afzal, and other senior government officials were also present.

The meeting received information on the results of the steps the government is taking for sustainable growth and economic consolidation, increased productivity, the ease of doing business and the protection of existing and future investors.

Other important issues discussed during the meeting included poverty alleviation, infrastructure development and communication, revitalization and mobilization of dead investments, disaster management and improved coordination between ministries and interested divisions for fluid implementation. and timely projects. The meeting also reported on investment in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the construction sector.

"You should focus on those projects that produce high productivity and at the same time remove obstacles in your path," said the prime minister, adding that without providing protection to the business community, the economy could not prosper. "We must increase the confidence of the business community to increase investment in all sectors."

The prime minister ordered that all poor strata of society be included in the Ehsaas program, such as chronically poor, extremely poor and marginalized poor segments.

The meeting was informed about the importance of the inclusion of women for the balanced economic development of the country.

"Women should receive incentives and facilitation for their contribution to socio-economic development," the prime minister added.

The special information assistant, citing the growth model of Malaysia, said that women's empowerment and facilitation would contribute significantly to Pakistan's socio-economic growth.

The president of NDMA informed the meeting about the proposals related to the development of communication and infrastructure and the mobilization of dead investment to reap the benefits of short-term investment. He also proposed the creation of Disaster Risk Financing following frequent natural disasters and the shortage of funds currently allocated to respond in case of any eventuality.

The meeting was also informed about the proposed lease plan for Pakistan's steel mills and the interest shown by Russian and Chinese companies.

The prime minister ordered the authorities involved to develop a comprehensive plan regarding the proposed lease of PSM at a separate meeting as soon as possible.

Posted on Dawn, October 1, 2019