Abbasi says govt to extend full support to Rangers to achieve desired results

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Saturday said the federal government would spend Rs 30 billion for the infrastructural uplift of Karachi and Hyderabad.

Talking to the newsmen here after concluding his day-long visit, the prime minister said as committed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the federal government would spend Rs 25 billion for development projects in Karachi and five billion rupees in Hyderabad.

During his meeting with Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair, he said he discussed in detail the development projects, including the construction of roads, improvement of traffic system and water supply schemes. Besides K-4 project, the government could provide even more funds to ensure supply of water to the Karachi residents, he said.

He said that among development projects committed by the federal government included the construction of a medical college and hospital in the Karachi University and Greenline Bus Rapid Transit System. In Hyderabad, the federal government would fund the construction of a university, besides other development projects, he said.

Prime Minister Abbasi said that the development funds would be spent under the supervision of the Sindh governor and hoped that the projects would complete timely. About his engagements in the city, he said that he had offered Fateha at the Mazar-e-Quaid, met the governor, chaired a meeting on law and order situation, interacted with the businessmen, besides meeting delegations of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Pakistan Muslim League-N.

The prime minister, who was accompanied by the Sindh governor, said the PML-N government made all-out efforts for the revival of peace in Karachi. He said in the meeting it was decided that the Rangers would keep up their task and the federal government would extend its full support to them to achieve the desired results.

He said after 18th amendment, the funds were transferred to the provinces for development of their respective cities. In 2012-13, Sindh had received Rs 1,200 billion that had now been increased to Rs 1,900 billion, so it was mainly the province’s responsibility to carry out development projects.

To a question, he said he would hold the prime ministerial office till the party wanted so. Being a political party, the PML-N was rightful to show the power and during last three days everyone had witnessed as how the masses had welcomed Nawaz Sharif en route to his house from Islamabad, he pointed out.

He said that Nawaz Sharif had not targeted any institution rather expressed his views which were his right. To a question, he reiterated that Nawaz Sharif was his prime minister. Responding to a question, the prime minister said the MQM had set no precondition to vote for the PML-N candidate in the prime ministerial election.

He said the MQM delegation had apprised him about their issues which would be resolved according to the law. About his meeting with senior PML-N leader Syed Ghaus Ali Shah, he said it was just his private meeting, not the political one for latter being once his jail mate too. To another query, he said he had already resigned from AirBlue Management Board on July 28 to avoid any controversy.

When asked about the repeal of NAB law by the Sindh Assembly, the prime minister said the court would decide the matter as it had already been challenged. About the death of a boy after a car from Nawaz Sharif’s rally ran over him in Lala Musa, the prime minister said it was very sad happening and the local party leadership would surely have visited the family to fulfill their moral obligations.