ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said on Sunday that Kashmir was an unresolved issue and the UNSC resolutions on the referendum should be implemented, adding Kashmir was a core issue, and ties could not become normal with New Delhi without resolving the issue of Kashmir.
Pakistan-India Ties
In an exclusive interview with a private TV, Kakar said that Islamabad historically did not have friendly ties with New Delhi, Pakistan, and India became nuclear, and New Delhi violated global principles and helped in the separation of East Pakistan. He said that Pakistan’s foreign policy was aimed at friendship with the entire world, including the US, and diplomacy needed wisdom and debate.
Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said the federal government would come up with several strategies including short, medium, and long-term plans to address the issue of power bills and initiate reforms in the sector of electricity. The PM also assured that the federal government would executive a plan for the conservation of electricity as was practiced in the developed world and taught by Islam.
To a question regarding public agitation on the issue of power bills, he said extreme social and political attitudes were not helpful for society. Kakar said the system of taxation was meant to tax the rich and invest on the poor citizens, but at current, the system was under the control of profiteers and was marred with inadequacy, saying the indirect taxation system was accountable for many of the griefs of the poor.
Issue of Electricity Bills and Power Sector
The Prime Minister said that they needed to tax different fields that are not yet brought under the tax net. Kakar remarked that Pakistan’s economic situation was affected by the global financial institutions and “we have to fulfill the deals made with them.” He maintained that the federal government had to honor the deals made with the electricity companies in the past.
PM Kakar said problems in the power sector and generation and transmission system were serious, saying the issue of power bills was multidimensional and the authorities had held several meetings related to matters of taxation and the electricity sector.
The Prime Minister assured that the Ministry of Finance would come up with suggestions to provide relief to vulnerable people in society. He added he was misquoted regarding the recent protest demonstrations on the matter of power bills.
He realized that there was a section of society that was severely burdened with bills of electricity, and he could identify with the economic and social problems of people as he himself faced these issues in the past. To a question regarding privatization, Kakar said the privatization of state sector entities like Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was on the agenda of the government, and work was almost being done on it.
Upcoming Elections
The Prime Minister added the Interim government was the continuation of the constitutional order and that the caretaker setup would not remain in place for any extra time on the expiry of its term. He said that the Election Commission of Pakistan would announce the date for the next elections in the country.
He acknowledged that due to the past conditions, there were concerns among the different political parties regarding the schedule of elections.
Afghanistan and Situation in Border Areas
Responding to another question, PM Kakar said the situation in border areas was aggravated because of the situation emerging after the withdrawal of the US and NATO troops from Afghanistan. He said, “There was an inventory of arms and equipment that was left by the United States in Afghanistan, and now the terror groups were more equipped and were not only dangerous for Pakistan but for other countries, including China. The United States should have handed over the inventory of arms responsibly, but there was a rushed departure by the United States, and now it was not clear who was in possession of these equipment and weapons.” He remarked that the prosperity, peace, and stability of Afghanistan were linked to the prosperity, peace, and stability of Pakistan.
May 9 Events
The Prime Minister said the events of May 9 were watched by the entire world, and the global media also reported these events and analyzed them. APP quoted the Prime Minister as he saying that such vandalism was not acceptable in any democratic dispensation, saying it was an attempt to lead to a mutiny and civil war and “the target was the leadership of the country’s army and the current chief of army staff.”
Kakar said the due process of law was being followed after the May 9 incidents, and there was a standard operating procedure across the world to deal with cases of attack on military installations as per law. -APP
