PM for speedy development through best economic decisions

LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday directed the government functionaries to take the best economic decision to ensure proper use of each and every penny from the national exchequer.
He was speaking at a briefing regarding Ravi Zone development and conservation of archaeological sites, including Jahngir Tomb, at his Raiwind residence on Saturday.
Chief Secretary Punjab Naveed Akram Cheema, Chairman Planning and Development Department Irfan Elahi, Commissioner Lahore Rashid Langrial, LDA Chairman Ahad Cheema, two Singapore based consultants engaged in conservation of Jahangir Tomb and other senior officials of the government were also present.
The Prime Minister said experts and consultants from the private sector should be engaged in development works to ensure the maximum utilization of available resources and achieving a goal of development in the shortest possible time.
He said the public private partnership could be among the best options for reducing financial burden of big projects on the government and getting an efficient and better outcome.
He said `high end areas' should be developed in big cities, including Lahore, keeping in view models from the developed world for allowing construction of multi-storey buildings.
He stressed the need of adopting the best `commercial leverages' for enhancing value of the government's lands so that the land resources of the public sector could be used in the best interest of the masses.
Talking about residents of poor localities, he directed officials of development authorities to take steps for providing the best organized living facilities to people residing in unorganized areas.
"It is a social obligation to provide the best living facilities to people of unorganized areas and the government would do its best in this regard," he said.
Nawaz Sharif got a detailed briefing on steps to improve water table of Lahore and directed the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to prepare proposals on economically viable options in this regard.

Govt to announce crucial decisions, still prefers talks: Nisar

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. — File photo

PESHAWAR: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday said the government has made crucial decisions in relation to the country's security which it would be announcing soon, DawnNews reported.
Addressing a press conference at the Governor House in Peshawar, the minister said despite the events of the past several days, the government still preferred the route of peace talks with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Talks between government and Taliban representatives that began earlier this month were suspended after the killing of 23 paramilitary soldiers by the militants.
The military responded with a series of air strikes that have left more than 100 insurgents dead, but Khan said the government was still open to talks – with the right people.
“We will talk to those groups who are not against Pakistan,” he said adding, “We are in contact with groups that have never attacked Pakistan's interests, we have dialogue for them.”
He gave no details of which groups he meant.
His comments could revive fears that Pakistan is maintaining a policy of distinguishing between “good” militants who can be used to further strategic goals abroad, and “bad” militants who attack domestic targets.
Pakistan has come in for strong criticism from the United States and Afghanistan in recent years for sheltering and patronising militants such as the Haqqani network, who attack Nato and Afghan forces across the border.
On Wednesday, Chaudhry Nisar unveiled Pakistan's first-ever counter-terrorism policy, seven years since the TTP rose up and began its bloody campaign against the state.
The minister said every act of violence would in future be met with an attack on the militants' bases, which lie mainly in the North Waziristan tribal district on the Afghan border.
Commenting on the status of the dialogue between the government and Taliban representatives, Khan said Wednesday that while talks have been put on hold they could “resume anytime soon and both negotiations and targeted strikes will go hand in hand.”
He said the government was sincerely working towards establishing peace in the country, adding that it would remove all the stumbling blocks that lay on the road ahead.
The minister said acts of violence could not be tolerated on the country’s soil and that the government would appropriately respond to any such attacks.
Nisar said security forces were being provided with the latest equipment purchased from abroad, adding that new vehicles would also be provided to the forces, including the police.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Engineer Shaukatullah, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Inspector General KP Police Nasir Durrani were also present during the press briefing.