ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Monday said that the country’s progress was irking its enemies, pledging to counteract the efforts of both domestic political opponents and external forces.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Monday, Tarar highlighted the attempts by certain entities to sabotage Pakistan-China relations, emphasizing their sinister agenda aimed at destabilizing the country.
Assuring complete security to Chinese nationals residing and working in Pakistan, Tarar reiterated the government’s determination to eradicate terrorism.
Referring to his recent visit to China as part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s delegation, Tarar announced advancements in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
The minister expressed confidence that there will be progress on the agreements and projects such as ML-1, Karachi Circular Railway, provision of IT training to two hundred thousand Pakistani youth by a Chinese tech company and the second phase of CPEC in the next few weeks. He said the upgraded version of CPEC would be mutually beneficial for the peoples of both countries.
However, he stressed the importance of political stability for economic prosperity, condemning efforts to sow uncertainty in Pakistan.
Tarar criticized the notion that any political leader could surpass the interests of Pakistan, particularly referencing PTI founding chairman Imran Khan and questioning the legitimacy of recent court proceedings.
Defending the Punjab Defamation Act, which came into effect on Monday, Tarar argued that it applied to everyone and was necessary for maintaining societal order.
Addressing concerns about potential restrictions on social media access, Tarar humorously remarked on his observations during his visit to China, implying that he hadn’t encountered any significant barriers similar to a “firewall.”
Tarar concluded by urging accountability for corruption cases and emphasizing the need for transparency and justice in Pakistan’s legal system.
The Information Minister said the country is also registering successes on the foreign front. Referring to the election of Pakistan on the non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council with a big majority, he said this shows the trust of friendly countries in Pakistan.
وفاقی وزیر اطلاعات عطاءاللہ تارڑ کی پریس کانفرنس
وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کا دورہ چین انتہائی کامیاب رہا، وفاقی وزیر اطلاعات
دورہ چین تاریخی تھا، اس میں وہ موضوعات بھی زیر بحث آئے جو پہلے کبھی نہیں آئے، وفاقی وزیر اطلاعاتhttps://t.co/V5Cq0z0BNP
— Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) June 10, 2024
