Bilal Azhar Kayani, Minister of State for Finance, said that Jhelum's problems will not be resolved by decisions taken in Lahore. He argued that Jhelum issues resolution depends on a stronger system of local government. Jhelum is a city in Punjab, and the remarks were made at a policy forum in the federal capital.
What Kayani said
Speaking at the Margalla Dialogue in Islamabad, Kayani said local government institutions must be strengthened. He added that powers should be moved to the local level in all cities, including Karachi. He also said that government policies should be improved by taking guidance from public gatherings.
Local government and officials' powers
The minister's central point was that authority now concentrated at higher levels should be devolved. He said the discretionary powers of government officials should be reduced to a minimum, so that fewer decisions depend on individual officers. For Jhelum issues resolution to move forward, he argued, local decisions must replace decisions made from Lahore.
Exports and the economy
On the economy, Kayani named tax, energy prices and the policy rate as major problems for exporters. The policy rate is the benchmark interest rate set by the State Bank of Pakistan, the central bank. He said the Export Facilitation Scheme, a scheme designed to make exporting easier, could play an important role in raising the country's exports.
His remarks did not set out specific steps or a timeline for Jhelum. They covered local government, official powers and national trade together, so the next moves on Jhelum's problems remain to be seen.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Bilal Azhar Kayani, jo Minister of State for Finance hain, ne kaha hai ke Jhelum ke masail Lahore mein baith kar faisle karne se hal nahi honge. Unka kehna tha ke maqami hukumatain mazboot hon aur afsaron ke sawabdidi ikhtiyarat kam hon. Tax, energy ki qeematen aur policy rate unhon ne exports ke bade masail bataye hain. Abhi tak koi khaas tabdeeli ka elaan nahi hua, is liye aam logon ko agle iqdamat ka intezar karna hoga.
