ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government has taken revolutionary steps to empower people at the grassroots level as all previous governments failed to introduce an empowered local government system in the country.

       Speaking at a press conference, he said the PPP government in Sindh was not giving the people of Karachi their due share which increased suffering, adding districts and cities would get their full share under the new local government system introduced by the PTI government.

       Under the new system, mayors would be elected by the people directly to run their districts, he said, adding the same system was already in practice in New York, London and Paris.

       He regretted it was unfortunate that the Sindh government had not only deprived its people of the health card facility, but it was also reluctant to introduce basic reforms in the local government system.

       Mr Fawad claimed that economy was on the verge of collapse when the PTI came to power, but it successfully achieved a 5.37 per cent growth rate despite the impact of coronavirus pandemic.

       He said credit for the smart lockdown policy must be given to PM Imran Khan as he was the only leader who decided against locking down the entire country.

       The entire world initially imposed complete lockdown to contain the pandemic, but later eased restrictions.

       Even British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was now in favour of smart lockdown, he said.

       Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2022