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News

September 01 , 2017

PM emphasises productivity, low-cost infrastructure

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday emphasised the need for introducing a low-cost infrastructure to increase productivity.

Chairing a meeting on matters of Ministry of Commerce, Abbasi stressed productivity, innovation and low-cost infrastructure. He was briefed on various issues affecting the positive balance of trade. A number of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements were discussed during the meeting.

The meeting also discussed the Prime Minister's Package to reinforce export and various options came under discussion to further promote exports. Meanwhile, Abbasi completed his first month in the office and established his own pattern in running the affairs of the government.

He enormously enhanced his interaction with the parliamentarians and in between attended the sessions of the two houses of Parliament separately. He has visited Karachi, Lahore and Quetta during the four weeks. He also dashed to Saudi Arabia’s costal city Jeddah where he had an important meeting with the Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman Abdul Aziz Ale Saud.

The visit had significance in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s policy towards South Asia and Afghanistan where he hurled allegations and used insinuations about Pakistan. Trump’s statement became his first diplomatic test and with the active support of the Foreign Office under Khawaja Muhammad Asif, he has been dealing with the challenge very ably.

He has successfully brought the opposition on board. Premier Abbasi holds the federal cabinet meeting every Tuesday where important decisions are taken and it demonstrates his belief in consultation process which is the essence of democracy.

Sources in the administration told The News on Thursday that Shahid Abbasi was actively working on completion of projects initiated by Nawaz Sharif and was reporting him regularly about the pace of completion.

The sources reminded that Shahid Abbasi hadn’t initiated any new project but timely completion of Nawaz Sharif’s projects would be his real success. Abbasi has crossed the double century of meeting parliamentarians belonging to various shades but has yet come across the hard-core opposition parties national legislatures.

It is unlikely that they would prefer to avail themselves of audience with Prime Minister Abbasi since it wouldn’t suit to their way of politics. He has been regularly meeting his constituents belonging to Murree, Kahuta and Galliyat. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who was designated to be Prime Minister by Nawaz Sharif initially for 45 days has been told to continue till completion of the tenure of National Assembly mandated till June 4, 2018.

He is holding the Economic Committee of the Cabinet regularly and also chaired a meeting of the ECNEC, which is a demand of the constitution. Abbasi didn’t change staff that was working with his predecessor and mentor Nawaz Sharif including his Secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad which is proving source of strength for him.

He had a meeting with three federal ministers, one adviser, deputy speaker National Assembly and a delegation belonging to Bohra sect elite on Thursday.

State Minister Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, retired General Abdul Qadir Baloch, Advisor on Aviation Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan Abbasi had a meeting separately with the prime minister and discussed the issues related to their respective ministries.

A delegation of Dawoodi Bohra community led by its Vice President Faize Hakimi Mr. Mustansir H Poonawala today called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at the Prime Minister Office (PMO).

The delegation felicitated the prime minister on assuming the office and conveyed good wishes of the leader of Bohra community Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin to the prime minister. The prime minister also extended his best wishes for Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin and said ‘we look forward to his visit to Pakistan’.

The delegation included Juzer Bhau Saheb. Kumail Younus, Mansoor Ajmerwala, Zulfiqar Adam and Hussain Kumail. Minister of State for CADD Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry briefed the premier on matters pertaining to the Capital Administration and Development Division.

Minister of State for Inter Provincial Coordination, Dr. Darshan briefed him about working of Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC). Deputy Speaker National Assembly Murtaza Javed Abbasi discussed with him matters pertaining to development schemes of his constituency.

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