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| Imran Khan addresses inauguration ceremony of 800-acre Lahore Technopolis | Wants old party guards on board to devise LG polls’ strategy in Punjab
PM will personally supervise whole exercise for better Punjab results after KP defeat
LAHORE – Following a dismal performance by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the recently held local bodies elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday told party men that he would personally supervise the election strategy for the upcoming local government polls in the Punjab province.
While presiding over a meeting of senior party leaders here in Lahore, the prime minister directed the provincial leadership to consult the old party guards to devise an effective strategy for the upcoming local bodies’ elections in the Punjab province. Sources privy to the meeting said that the prime minister also urged the party leaders to end dissensions within the party ahead of the local bodies’ elections.
He also asked them to give due weightage to the opinion of old party workers when it comes to selection of the candidates. “They [old party guards] should be given due respect and an agreed strategy should be evolved to contest the elections as one team,” a source quoted the PM as having said.
Imran said that he would himself supervise the whole exercise of devising an election strategy to achieve better results. Reportedly, the prime minister told the party leaders that the mistakes committed in the KPK elections should not be repeated in Punjab. “The preparations for the local bodies’ elections must start now”, he stressed.
It may be recalled here that Prime Minister Imran Khan had on last Tuesday said that the PTI had made mistakes in the first phase of local bodies’ elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and paid the price. “PTI made mistakes in the 1st phase of KP LG elections & paid the price. Wrong candidate selection was a major cause. From now on I will personally be overseeing PTI’s LG election strategy in the 2nd phase of KP LG elections & LG elections across Pak. InshaAllah PTI will come out stronger,” he had said in his tweet.
The meeting was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, Local Government Minister Mian Mahmoodur Rashid and local party leaders from Lahore.
‘Lahore Technopolis’
Also, Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday said that if incentivised and facilitated, the technology industry could help overcome the current account deficit of the country by boosting exports as well as addressing the issue of unemployment.
The prime minister, addressing the inauguration ceremony of Lahore Technopolis, a special technology zone, said the project would help provide incentives to the tech industry and bring ease for the businessmen, in accordance with the government’s vision.
Special Technology Zones being developed all across the country would be home to Science & Technology Parks, manufacturing units, research and development centers of global tech companies and software houses. It will also feature, universities, incubators, accelerators and other ecosystem players. Before Lahore, Islamabad Technopolis was also announced earlier this year. The prime minister said the IT sector would also address the issue of unemployment to the youth particularly the women besides boosting the country’s exports.
The prime minister lauded Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and other relevant ministers for allocating 800 acres of land for the purpose, which he said was the “future of the world.”
Exemplifying Google and other tech giants, the prime minister said during COVID-19, all other businesses had faced a slump but the profits of the tech companies multiplied during the pandemic.
However, he said unfortunately, Pakistan lagged behind in the sector despite having ideal conditions including a huge young population. He said within 15-20 years, Indian tech exports boomed to $150 billion while Pakistan could reach only $2 billion.
The prime minister said as the country started achieving economic growth, the current account got disturbed owing to the import of the machinery which ultimately devalued the local currency and made the country approach IMF for loans. The country can only come out of this cycle unless it boosts its exports and allows wealth creation, he added.
Citing the Chinese model of development, the prime minister said the country achieved remarkable progress and steered 700 million people out of poverty through eliminating corruption by jailing over 450 ministerial-level people and enhancing exports.
The prime minister called for redirecting the orientation of the government as well as the population towards enhancing exports and wealth creation.
He said taking advantage of its 12 climatic zones, the country could reduce its import bill of commodities like edible oil through indigenous production of palm oil.
Calling them the biggest asset, the prime minister also emphasized the involvement of the overseas Pakistanis towards investment and wealth creation in Pakistan. He said China and India had also first attracted their own firms operating abroad to invest at home.
He said the Pakistani individuals as well as the firms operating abroad including the Silicon Valley were interested to invest in Pakistan which necessitated incentives and ease of doing business.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said the objective behind establishing the Technopolis projects in Lahore, Islamabad and KP was to make Pakistan join the tech race and provide employment to the people.
Earlier, the prime minister also distributed licenses among the companies which would be operating in the Technopolis. The event also marked the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for an investment of $300 million for the establishment of another three technology zones in different parts of the country.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar said Lahore had been selected the Technopolis considering the existence of universities and other tech institutes as well as companies in the city.
He said the project would help carry out technology-based researches and studies.
In order to attract investment to Technopolis, the government had given a 10-year tax exemption to companies operating there. The companies from various countries like US, Canada, China and Australia were approaching to invest there, he added.
‘Development projects in Punjab’
Punjab Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar called on Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday and briefed him about the progress of ongoing development projects in the province, administrative matters as well as the law and order situation.
Chief Secretary Punjab Kamran Ali Afzal, Inspector General Police Rao Sardar Ali Khan and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Aamir Jan were also in attendance.
The Prime Minister was also apprised of the administrative measures taken to ensure uninterrupted supply of fertilizer to farmers. The Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction over the administrative and law and order situation in the province and directed for further improvement.
Besides, he also directed to take measures to trickle down the positive effects of government’s welfare projects to masses.
‘GC University Research Center on Sufism’
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday inaugurated the Sheikh Abul Hassan Al-Shadhili Research Center on Sufism, Science and Technology here at Government College University.
He also laid foundation stone of the research center building, to be constructed at a cost of Rs.140 million, which would be utilized for research on bringing about improvement in practical life in the light of Sufism.
The institution was aimed at promoting societal reform; mutual harmony; respect of diversity; research on Sufism, science and technology; providing one platform to local and international researchers; and disbursing educational scholarships to students for research in this faculty.
Besides, the center will also promote research and education about Sufism in existing faculties like history, Islamic teachings, political science, literature etc.
The Research Center, which is providing education courses on Sufism at BS and M. Phil levels, will also offer Postdoctoral and Research Fellowship. Besides, the Center will also provide scholarships for PhD to promote research on Sufism.
Meanwhile, Provincial Minister for Irrigation Punjab Mohsin Laghari called on Prime Minister Imran Khan here on Thursday and discussed the progress of ongoing irrigation projects in the province. Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar was also present in the meeting.