It’s time to deliver, vows Imran Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan has made it crystal clear to the members of his federal cabinet that if their ministries do not perform the government will not be able to provide better governance to the public. “We don’t have excuses anymore and that it’s time for performance now,” reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Imran Khan said the government must perform in the remaining years of its tenure.

Addressing the signing ceremony of the Centre's performance agreements for 2020-21 in Islamabad on Tuesday, Imran Khan said the time for excuses has passed, now they have to perform.

He said that when PTI came into power on July 25, 2018, the first priority was to get the required numbers and form a coalition government. “From July 25 to August 18, we were busy in forming the government.”

He gave the example of US President-elect Joe Biden, who had two and a half months to select his team.

The PM said that governments should come fully prepared and ministers should receive a complete briefing about the functions of their ministries.

He said the previous leadership should provide a complete briefing to its successor. “When we came into the government, it took us three months to understand things," he said, adding Pakistan needed to review its systems. "We're gradually learning things."

The premier said it was his habit to look at everything in his life to see what could be done better or improved. "We have two-and-a-half years left to take the government's performance forward.

"We no longer have excuses. It's time for us to perform... It's time for performance now. We need to put pressure on ourselves to perform," he added.

Imran Khan said that in the context of 18th Amendment some issues between the federation and provinces need to be resolved. “If a province experiences a shortage of flour, the federal government is held responsible. We need to review our system,” he added.

He said they want to complete development projects as soon as possible and improve the pension system. “Our economy is improving but we won’t be out of the woods until our exports increase.”

Imran said power sector is the biggest challenge to provide affordable electricity to the consumers. He said the government is providing subsidies of billions of rupees, but it is being used both by the poor and the rich. 

He said there is a need to rationalize provision of subsidies to the targeted populace and deserving people as well as for the development of backward areas.

The Prime Minister stressed the need to enhance exports and control inflation in the country. He said growing bill of pensions is also one of the biggest challenges the country is facing. He directed to formulate a comprehensive plan to meet this challenge.

The prime minister said the government is seeking China’s cooperation in the agriculture sector under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.