Latest news with #AwamPakistanParty
Express Tribune
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Abbasi slams PPP over Karachi's decline, cites 17 years of neglect
Abbasi criticized federal and provincial governments for inaction and secrecy, noting public anxiety and media silence. PHOTO :FILE Listen to article Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, convenor of the Awam Pakistan Party, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of Karachi during an interactive session at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi on Wednesday. Addressing media representatives and students, Abbasi criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for failing to resolve basic civic issues despite holding power in Sindh for the past 17 years. 'After nearly two decades in power, PPP has yet to address fundamental issues like access to clean water. One has to step outside the city center to truly understand how deprived Karachi really is,' Abbasi remarked. The event featured a special Q&A session with students who engaged with the former premier on topics ranging from governance and political reform to the future direction of Pakistan. During the session, Abbasi raised concerns over the new canals project from the Indus River. 'This is not a new issue. I visited Sukkur in November, and the people were already worried. The federal government has failed to clarify how these canals will affect Sindh's water share,' he said. He further criticised both the federal and provincial governments for their inaction and lack of transparency, adding that the public remains anxious while the media remains largely silent. 'PPP is now part of the federal government; they cannot disassociate themselves from these issues,' he added. Calling for accountability, he urged that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) be convened immediately to address these matters openly. 'The longer we delay, the more trust we lose between provinces. This lack of clarity is dangerous for national unity.' Speaking on regional tensions, the former PM condemned India's recurring strategy of blaming Pakistan for terrorist incidents to gain political advantage, saying such tactics only serve to mask deeper issues. Referring to a recent tragic event in Indian Illegal Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) , he said, 'Over 26 lives were lost. No one should be allowed to attack unarmed civilians.' Abbasi also highlighted Pakistan's internal security challenges and spoke about the ongoing issue of missing persons. 'To this day, the commission has failed to document these individuals, and the government continues to hide the truth. We owe it to the nation to bring facts to light.' On the economy, he criticised the government's handling of inflation and agricultural policy. 'The farmer is suffering. Wheat procurement has been mismanaged, with prices rising from Rs2200 to Rs4000 per maund. If the farmer fails, the economy fails.' He also pointed to the lack of transparency in public sector governance, saying the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has failed to hold politicians and bureaucrats truly accountable. 'After 25 years, NAB still makes it seem like every politician is innocent. We need to ask how public officials afford their lifestyles.' Touching upon electricity shortages and infrastructure gaps in Karachi, Abbasi said, 'This is a city where electricity usage peaks between 1 and 5 am. Until Karachi develops, the country cannot progress.' He argued that meaningful reforms by Pakistan's three major political parties could drive national progress but lamented their failure to address the public's real issues. 'Today, nearly every opposition party has some level of governance, yet none has emerged as a role model.' On the subject of democratic values, Abbasi emphasised the need for open political dialogue between politicians and the establishment. 'We are still failing to adopt democratic norms. National issues must be discussed transparently with the public, not behind closed doors.' He concluded by recalling Pakistan's troubled electoral history. 'We saw the country break apart because election results were rejected. Every election has been marred by manipulation. I've contested ten elections—no two were ever alike.' Calling for responsible leadership, he urged ministers to take initiative rather than rely solely on the prime minister for problem-solving. 'Good governance means taking responsibility at every level,' he added.
Express Tribune
17-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
If there are no savings from petrol, will roads in Balochistan not be built?: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
Listen to article Convener of the Awam Pakistan Party and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has criticised the government decisions, questioning the recent decision of linking road development in Balochistan to petroleum savings. 'If there are no savings from petroleum, does that mean roads in Balochistan won't be built?' he asked. Addressing a press conference in the federal capital, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi strongly criticised the government over two major national issues: the deepening crisis faced by farmers and the lack of relief on petroleum products for the public. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi stated that farmers across Pakistan are currently enduring severe hardships and are protesting nationwide, yet their grievances are not being addressed. 'Farmers grow wheat, which becomes the nation's flour. If the farmer is in distress, everyone will be affected,' he said. He pointed out that farmers also faced difficulties in 2023, and in 2024 the government announced it would not purchase wheat at Rs4,000 per 40kg. As a result, farmers were forced to sell at varying prices — some at Rs2,200 and others at Rs2,400 per 40kg. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi added that with a steep rise in the prices of urea and electricity, farmers are now compelled to sell wheat at Rs2,100 per 40kg — despite their production cost being much higher. 'When the farmer prospers, the country prospers. But today, farmers invest their assets and still can't make a profit.' He warned that if the situation continues, Pakistan may have to import wheat next year. He demanded that if local markets are not favourable for farmers, they should at least be allowed to export their wheat. 'Today, it costs a farmer Rs3,000 to produce a 40kg bag of wheat, yet they are forced to sell it at Rs2,100. Don't sacrifice farmers for a few votes,' Abbasi said. 'If their income doesn't grow, other sectors like tractors and motorcycles will also be affected.' He also criticised the Punjab government's incentive scheme, saying it benefits only a few, while the majority of farmers remain deprived. He called for the government to set a fair wheat support price that benefits both the public and the farming community. In the second half of the press conference, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi strongly criticised the government for failing to provide relief on petroleum products. He noted that global oil prices have dropped multiple times, yet the government has failed to pass on those savings to the public. 'There was room for a Rs10 reduction in old billing calculations, but people still received no relief,' he said. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi questioned why fuel prices are passed on to consumers when international markets rise but not when they fall. 'We hear that profits from petroleum will be used to build roads in Balochistan — but if there are no savings, will Balochistan not get roads?' he asked. He concluded by saying that national progress comes from positive government decisions, but this administration has once again missed an opportunity to provide relief to the public. Previously, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that instead of passing on the relief of reduced oil prices in international market to the consumers, the government would use the saved money for the reconstruction of the N-25 highway and completion of Phase-II of the Kachhi Canal project in Balochistan. The prime minister made the announcement while chairing the federal cabinet meeting, where he declared the transformation of the N-25, known infamously as the "deadly road", into a motorway-standard highway.
Express Tribune
21-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Miftah slams govt for U-turns
Former finance minister and Awam Pakistan Party (APP) Secretary General Miftah Ismail fired a broadside against the government's solarisation policy and the levy of tax on net metering, drawing scathing rebuttal from Power Minister Awais Leghari on Thursday. Speaking at a press conference at the party's office in Karachi, Ismail accused the prime minister of taking U-turn on the solarisation policy, saying that the government first encouraged people to install solar meters at home, but now the net metering was abolished and replaced with gross metering. In response, Leghari stated that Ismail's criticism was based on "false and baseless figures", adding that because of the government's policies the share solar energy has reached 4,000 MW, which would be increased to 12,000 MW in the next eight years. Ismail told reporters that the government lied when it said that solar power users are getting free electricity. "Now, the people have been told that sales tax would be levied on all units produced through the solar panels," he added. "This will increase the electricity bill and the public will not get the benefit of solar," the former finance minister said. "This strategy is a policy reversal of the federal government, which is a kind of U-turn," the AAP leader added. Ismail claimed that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led coalition government was finding the intake of 1,300 gigawatt hours electricity from the public or solar power users a burden, but added that it could not see the waste of electricity during the production and distribution. "In fact, only a dozen people in Pakistan are a burden on the public and the country because they have made electricity very expensive in Pakistan," he said, mentioning the purchase of electricity at exorbitant rate from the Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Ismail also blamed the government for price hike in sugar. He also slammed the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for opposing the canals, saying that PPP was struggling to save its vote bank. He said that people were not being provided the actual water data. "I ask my brother Bilawal Bhutto and my sister Maryam Nawaz, what happened to you announcements during the election campaigns about providing free electricity up to 200 and 300 units," Ismail told the reporters. Later, in a statement, Leghari said that Miftah Ismail was trying to mislead the people by presenting "false and baseless figures". He added that the government encouraged the public to install solar panels. "The contracts of existing net metering users will remain as per the old rates," Leghari said. "In many countries, the price of net metering is adjusted so that there is no unnecessary burden on the national grid and the economy. With mutual consent and consultation, the IPPs contracts have been reviewed, which results in the saving of Rs1,500 billion," the minister said. Last year, the share of clean energy in the national grid, including hydel, solar, wind and nuclear power, was more than 55%, he continued. In the next few years, the ratio of clean green energy would reach 85%. "Pakistan should be proud of having a clean green energy grid," the minister said.
Express Tribune
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Khaqan Abbasi slams govt's failures
Lashing out at government, Awam Pakistan Party (APP) chief Shahid Khaqan Abbasi criticised unelected persons for taking important decisions about the country. Speaking at the inauguration of a party office in Rawalpindi, the former prime minister said the incumbent government has completely failed, adding the country cannot progress by violating the Constitution. "Our parliament makes legislation in the darkness of night," Abbasi remarked, adding the country has no leader at the moment that could raise his voice for the public. Those who are ruling the country are not the true representatives of people of Pakistan, they are the product of Form-47, asserted the APP chief. He highlighted that Pakistan could not run without democracy and democracy could not survive without the supremacy of the Constitution. The youth demand their rights and a corruption-free country, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi pointed out, lamenting that frustration among young people is growing while the government continues to fail. He mentioned that all three big parties were ruling the country. PPP has been governing in Sindh for 17 years, PTI in K-P for 12 years and PMLN in centre. A government with stolen mandate cannot run economy nor can it steer the country on the path of progress. "We have left the corridors of power, and are standing here," said Abbasi, adding, "We have to raise voice for the welfare of people and the supremacy of the Constitution." The former prime minister said the problems of the country cannot be resolved until there is an end to political victimization. The roads should not be blocked by containers as people of the country do not pose any threat to the country. "We have halted the accountability system. We have to work together to improve the country's circumstances," he said.
