Our Correspondent
Hafizabad
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said that opposition parties were trying their best to blackmail the incumbent government and disband the country’s accountability watchdog.
The premier was speaking to a public gathering in Hafizabad, where he laid the foundation stone of a university and a hospital.
“When their blackmailing did not have any effect, they start attacking the judiciary and the armed forced,” the prime minister added. He reiterated that unless opposition parties leaders ‘pay for their crimes’ and return the looted wealth, they would not be let off the hook.
While addressing the inauguration ceremony he added that the government has taken the first step to a construct a 400-bed hospital and a university in Hafizabad, and it is the government’s duty to see the project to its completion.
This, along with health insurance card provided by the Punjab government, will pave the way for more health facilities to be built in Hafizabad, the province and by-in-large the country, the premier said.
Imran Khan said that Pakistan Muslim League-N supremo Nawaz Sharif was peddling India’s narrative to divert attention from his mega corruption.
Lashing out at the PML-N supremo, Imran Khan reiterated that he will bring all the corrupt elements to justice. Responding to the oppositions’ allegations pertaining to poll riggings, the prime minister said that they were ready to probe the allegations. He asked why did the opposition not lodge any complaint against rigging in the court.
The government was working on electronic voting to ensure transparency in the elections, he said, adding that they will hold the fairest elections in 2023 and will emerge as victorious.
PM Imran said the present government’s policies are aimed at reducing poverty, uplift the poor segments of society and ensure rule of law in the country where everybody is equal before the law.
He said the journey towards establishing a welfare state has been started and this country will emerge as a great nation on the world map.
Imran said health insurance scheme will be extended to the fifty percent population of Punjab by the end of this year and to the whole of the province by next year.
He said under this scheme, the people will be able to get medical treatment of Rs1 million both from the public and private hospitals.
Imran Khan said that Naya Pakistan Housing project has also been started under which the people will be able to get loan on easy installments at the interest rate of five percent to build a five-marla houses.
“Today, we have decided to build a 400-bed district hospital and a university in Hafizabad,” the premier said. “This is your need and our responsibility.”
“When illness befalls the house of an ordinary citizen, this health [insurance] card will provide medical insurance of Rs1 million. You can get treatment in public or private hospitals.”
Imran said even the richest countries in the world do not provide the medical insurance that PTI has introduced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
The premier said this will encourage the construction of private hospitals in under-developed areas, as people will have the means to seek treatment there.
“If you see now, the rural areas only have government hospitals because people do not have the money. Only big cities have private hospitals.”
“Until now, you could only make a house when you had money. If you did not have money, you lived on rent. But now, under the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme, anyone can build their house by taking out a loan on 5% interest.”
“Instead of paying a monthly rent, you will pay back the loan while living in your own house,” said PM Imran. “Many people promised ‘roti, kapra aur makaan’ but this [scheme] will be the first time people will have their own homes.”
Hitting out at the PDM, the prime minister said that earlier the Opposition parties had a contest among themselves to try to hold on to the seat of power but now they face an entirely new opponent — Imran Khan.
Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the university, costing Rs4.5 billion, will be built on 118 kanals of land. The government will also spend Rs2 billion on the 400-bed DHQ hospital.
Criticising previous governments for ignoring “an important city like Hafizabad”, Awan said Punjab CM Usman Buzdar believed in “real service” and not “false claims”.
She added that the districts were moving towards development under the PTI government. “This is real change,” she asserted.
