Never assume power unprepared: PM Imran Khan

 Never assume power unprepared: PM Imran Khan

Never assume power unprepared: PM Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Tuesday the new government shouldn’t assume power without preparation because the system is different for those that see it from outside, and for those that work within the system.

The premier said the PTI-led government didn't "have excuses anymore" which it had been "time for performance now". Speaking at an occasion here to sign the Centre's performance agreements for 2020-21, Imran Khan underlined that at the time of transfer of power from one government to a different following the overall elections, the previous leadership should provide an entire briefing to its successor on the US pattern.

“When we (the PTI) came into the govt , it took us three months to know things and form our team," he said, adding that Pakistan needed to review its systems. "We're gradually learning things (even now)."

The prime minister noted that the primary thing was that we should always review the system and after once your team was made, then it should tend full time and before assuming the govt , there should be specifically government preparation, on how will you give governance and there should be comprehensive briefing.

For instance, he continued that there should be complete briefing on Railways, on what exactly was things there then there should be special comprehensive briefings on economy; like what exactly were deficits and what was the electricity and gas situation. “When you assume office, you ought to know fully what's your agenda and the way it's to be implemented,” he said.

“Everything that one saw from outside was entirely different then there have been numerous figures, particularly in power sector, and for one and a half years, they didn't have idea about actual figures,” he said.

When any ministry’s figures was communicated, he noted, they were alleged to be doing alright then another figure was shared, which showed that they weren't doing that well. The prime minister acknowledged that power sector was the most important challenge to supply affordable electricity to consumers, whereas the govt was providing subsidies of billions of rupees, but it had been getting used both by the poor and therefore the rich. He said there was a requirement to rationalise provision of subsidies to the targeted populace and deserving people also as for the event of backward areas.

He stressed the necessity to reinforce exports and control inflation within the country while the growing bill of pensions was also one among the most important challenges the country was facing. He directed Dr Ishrat Hussain, present among the audience, to formulate a comprehensive decide to meet this challenge.

The prime minister said greater focus would be made on the agriculture sector to extend productivity and job opportunities for the youth. during this context, he said, the govt was seeking China's cooperation within the agriculture sector under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

About problems emerged after transfer of powers and shifting of varied subjects to provinces under 18th Amendment, Imran Khan said, “We got to review the system for better performance. What the federal can do if a province doesn't release wheat well in time, creating difference in prices of the commodity. In such a situation blame is shifted to the Centre,” he said.

Similarly, he said, the Ministry of Environment has been devolved to provinces and therefore the Centre couldn't formulate a consistent policy. He said this subject should even be kept with the federal , saying, “We will need to work on of these distortions.

The premier said it had been his habit to ascertain m at everything in his life to see what might be done better or improved. "We have two-and-a-half years left to require the government's performance forward. We not have excuses. it is time for us to perform... it is time for performance now. we'd like to place pressure on ourselves to perform and our ministers also got to put pressure on themselves to enhance performance also ," he added.

Imran Khan mentioned that his government would now follow the A-grade projects and fast-track other top ones as they typically "get stuck in one ministry or the other".