PTI govt pursuing agenda of change: Khattak

Stresses return of Afghan refugees with honour

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said on Friday people voted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to power for one-point agenda of change as they had been deprived of justice in the past.

He said this while addressing participants of the National Defense Workshop arranged by National Defense University at the Chief Minister’s House Peshawar, said an official handout. The participants comprised of members of provincial, National Assembly and senators from all over the country.

Director General Institute for strategic Studies, Research and Analysis Major-General Ghulam Qamar, led the participants. Provincial ministers and other senior officials were present as well.

Secretaries for Home and Planning & Development departments briefed the participants about the steps by the provincial government being taken for the improvement of law and order situation and speeding up development.

Highlighting reforms undertaken by the KP government, the chief minister said the PTI-led coalition government had made legislations to stop interference in the public institutions. He said over 150 laws had been enacted in the province while amendments were underway.

Pervez Khattak said Right to Information law ensured access to information. Similarly, he added, the Right to Services law was made to enable people to get access to services. He said Whistle Blower and Prohibition of Interest laws had been introduced in the province to check corruption.

The chief minister enlisted the steps taken for improving the education sector. He hoped the target of 90 percent improvement would be achieved by 2018.

Pervez Khattak said law had been enacted for improving working of the hospitals, adding, the salaries of the doctors have been increased and monitoring system introduced.

The chief minister said the police system in the province was far better than other provinces and complaints against the force had been decreased to a great extent. About the Ehtesab Commission, he said that the law of accountability was amended to make the process of accountability more effective.

Responding to a question about law and order situation in the province, the chief minister said the KP was the safest province. He said incidents of extortion had been checked and target killings decreased to a great extent after border management.

Meanwhile, talking to a representative delegation of European Union, led by Managing Director Asia Pacific Gunnar Wiegand, the chief minister said honourable return of the Afghan refugees was in the interest of both countries.

Ambassador to European Union Jean-Farancois Cautain accompanied the delegation.

The chief minister said registration of refugees was a must as non- registration was creating law and order issues. The chief minister informed the delegation that due to pro-industrial policies, the confidence of the foreign investors had been restored.

He added the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would bring socio-economic revolution in the region.The chief minister hoped the prime minister would call an all parties conference on the CPEC to take political leaders into confidence. He said that CPEC was futuristic project and that was why federal government should make a policy clear to avoid doubts and misconception in the mind of the people about the project.  “We want equal development in all areas,” he added.