India behind terrorist attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange: PM

Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday said Pakistan has no doubt that India is behind yesterday’s terrorist attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange.

Speaking in the National Assembly, he said the security forces averted a big tragedy as the terrorists were carrying heavy arms and ammunition to take the people hostage in the Stock Exchange and kill them to create an environment of fear and uncertainty.

The Prime Minister said our neighboring country has a major plan to destabilize Pakistan.

He said the intelligence agencies were on high alert and it was because of their efforts that four of the terrorist attacks including two in the surroundings of Islamabad were preempted.

The Prime Minister said that there is no threat to the PTI government as long as its stick to its ideology.

Rejecting the criticism of the opposition, he said the government has just completed twenty months in office. He said the opposition is making hue and cry on the performance of the government as more details of their corruption are surfacing and they want to get away with it.

Imran Khan said that Pakistan is currently passing through difficult times but expressed the confidence that it will become an example for the whole developing countries after getting out of the challenge posed by Covid-19.

The Prime Minister said special focus is being given to the construction sector and he is personally monitoring it as it will provide job opportunities to the youth.

He said the agriculture and small and medium enterprises are other sectors that will be extended full support.

Imran Khan said that Covid-19 has inflicted a major blow to the economies around the world including Pakistan. He said that Pakistan witnessed a shortfall of one trillion rupees in the revenue collection due to the breakout of the pandemic.

He said the only way to control coronavirus is smart lockdown and the world is also accepting this reality. He said there has been no confusion in our policy to tackle the situation arising out of the Covid-19.

He pointed out that cash assistance was given to the deserving families in the most transparent manner. He also hailed the services of Doctors and paramedical staff saying they are waging Jihaad in hospitals.

He said a program has been prepared to bring reforms in the institutions including PIA and Pakistan Steel Mills.

He pointed out that Pakistan Steel Mills was running in profit back in 2008 and now its liabilities stands at 250 billion rupees.

The Prime Minister made it clear that it is our mission to go after the cartels and Mafias who are exploiting the people. He regretted that these mafias had the patronage of the previous governments.

Referring to the inquiry into Sugar Scam, he said the regulators including FBR, Competition Commission were hand in glove with the mafias.

He said that sugar mills were given subsidy of 29 billion rupees but in return they only paid nine billion rupees in taxes. He assured that these mafias will be brought under the law.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed the commitment to build Pakistan on the golden principles of State of Madina.