Leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has contributed nothing to national politics except introducing the culture of rudeness and indecency. Talking to media persons outside the Supreme Court premises after the Panamagate case hearing, Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique and State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said that now the PTI is resorting to defaming constitutional institutions in view of fear of defeat in the Panama Leaks case.
They alleged that purpose behind such politics of PTI is to impede the progress and prosperity of the country initiated by the ruling PML-N government. Rafique said that rumpus created in the National Assembly by the PTI members exposes their frustration. He said the incident is condemnable as it tarnished the sanctity of the august institution of the country.
He said that PTI is resorting to criticism as it sees no chance of winning next general election in 2018. He claimed the PTI is scared of the Prime Minister's personality.He said the people of Pakistan have rejected the politics of the chairman PTI, adding the country can't afford the politics of anarchy anymore. Later, addressing at a seminar, Marriyum Aurangzeb said the Parliament is putting necessary legislation in place to overcome the issues related to climate change.
At a seminar titled 'Pakistan's National Water Policy Network' organised by Hisaar Foundation, the minister said the Parliament has the most significant role to play for achievement of sustainable development goals.
Through education and awareness, all problems can be sorted out in a better way, she said. She was of the view that majority of people think that water is freely available, but actually this is otherwise. She said the government is cognisant of severe water-related problems. She said that a think tank has been established at the Ministry of Climate Change to address water-related issues.
She said that Pakistani Parliament is the first parliament in the world converted on solar energy and it provides state-of-the-art facilities on policing and framework on climate and water scarcity issues.
She maintained the census being held in March-April this year is a right step forward because most problems emerge from the fast growing population.
On the occasion, the recommendations to deal with Pakistan's water issues were also presented, which focussed on five main areas for further action. These include improving water access for the poor and landless, financing the urban and rural water value chain, safeguarding the Indus Basin and its infrastructure, improving water institutions and their management and governance, and finally building a base for science, technology and social aspects of water.
The goals of the recommendations for Pakistan's national water policy framework call for extending irrigation system to arid districts of Pakistan. It also calls for creating new storages and enhancing existing storages at different levels. The policy framework calls for improvement in water efficiency by 10 per cent. It also calls for increasing productivity in agriculture.
The policy framework recommends preserving, repairing and maintaining the existing water infrastructure. It also calls for a reversal in aabiyana (water rate) to realise the true value of water. The policy framework calls for control over groundwater withdrawals as well as generation of additional indigenous hydropower. The recommendations also call for increased co-ordination among water, agriculture, and industry for maximum benefits.
Finally, it calls for making investment in water infrastructure and hydropower, a core part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).