Caretaker PM vows to implement former govt’s commitments

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar vowed on Friday to comply with the commitments made by the previous government on national and international levels with different forums, besides ensuring rule of law and financial discipline during the interim period.

“We do not have perpetual mandate to serve the nation but during the given allocated time we will try to lay foundation where we have sense of continuation of national and international commitments that the previous government has made with different forums,” he said while talking to the cabinet members here during the first cabinet meeting of the caretaker government, the official news agency reported.

With respect to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) — launched by the former government — the prime minister said that the caretaker government would fully support it.

He said SIFC was a dream come true project as Pakistan is an agricultural country and rich with mineral resources. He said in fact SIFC is not a new idea but an old national dream that is going materialise now.

“The day has arrived when with the support of all institutions including Pakistan’s military leadership, we support, facilitate, encourage, and realize this old national dream,” he said.

Kakar said this initiative is not held by any institution but is collectively owned by around 250 million people of the country. “We all own it and we will contribute towards it.”

During the meeting, he individually acknowledged the services of all the cabinet members, saying: “I am very proud that we have got one of the best teams.”

The PM prayed that Almighty Allah enables them to lead and steer this nation during the interim period.

“With our utmost duty, may be it is a month, two or three, or three and a half, whatever the allocated time is, we will demonstrate through our actions not by our words,” he added.

With regard to the economic situation in the country, the prime minister said he was well aware of the huge economic challenges but with an able team, the government would ensure financial discipline.

“We have a sense of sanctity of tax payers’ money. This money on which we are having today’s meeting, using resources or traveling, is paid by the people of Pakistan,” he added.

He said either it is an ordinary vendor, shopkeeper, teacher, lawyer or any other person, all are contributing in this regard.

PM Kakar said in this polarised environment, the government would try to differentiate between politics and law.

He said the government would ensure that the rule of order is not compromised in any way and “the rule of order will lead us towards the rule of law”.

“We know the sanctity of the order that will be kept at any cost. Pakistan is owned and shared by all ethnicities, all creeds, and people of all religious backgrounds,” he added.

He highlighted that rigidity, be it in any form in the society, would be strongly discouraged.

Kakar said rigidity might come in the garb of religion or secularism or in any other form, these extreme attitudes would be discouraged and would be controlled by the law.

He said minorities would stay protected in this country and any attempt to harm them from a section of marginalised group of people would be responded strictly by the state and the society.

He said Pakistan was created on noble principles and the country was the product of a noble idea.

Speaking about the incident of May 9, the prime minister explicitly expressed disappointment and discomfort over the sabotage activities that took place that day.

He said attack on military installations was like the country’s immune system was attacked which could lead towards fatality.

“We do not just condemn it but we also will ensure that justice will be done and whosoever violated laws on those days will be treated according to law and there will not be any favour to anybody,” he added.

On the Kashmir issue, Prime Minister Kakar said: “It is the core issue which cannot be ignored. It lies in our soul. For us Kashmir is eternal.”