ISLAMABAD: Pakistani President Arif Alvi on Monday lauded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for its achievements on various fronts, including economy, social and human development, and foreign policy, to put the country on the path of a bright future, the state-run Radio Pakistan reported. 
The president was addressing a joint parliamentary sitting at the Parliament House in Islamabad, which marked the beginning of the ruling party’s 4th parliamentary year, amid a protest by opposition members and journalists over a proposed law that they said was aimed at stifling dissent in the country. 
Hundreds of journalists camped outside Pakistan’s parliament on Monday protested the proposed law that seeks to create a new regulator and set up special tribunals to try media-related cases, but a minister in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s cabinet backed the proposal, asking how were “journalist protection and hefty fines on fake news against the law.” 
Pakistan, which is home to roughly 220 million people, has long been fighting poverty, lack of justice, equality and education, especially for women, extremism and lately the climate change. Successive governments over the years have vowed to turn around the situation, but none could apparently go beyond mere promises, while the country’s economy kept on deteriorating. 
“Despite the negative impact of Covid-19, the country’s economy has been put on a positive trajectory,” President Alvi said in his speech, expressing satisfaction over 3.94 percent economic growth during the last fiscal year. 
“Exports touched the figure of $25.3 billion and remittances $19.4 billion during the last financial year,” he said, adding that remittances witnessed an increase of 10 percent in the first two months of this fiscal year. 
The president said the country’s revenue authority collected Rs4,732 billion in taxes and duties during the last fiscal year and an additional Rs160 billion in the first two months of this year. “This enhancement in remittances and revenue collection shows the confidence of the masses in the policies of the government.” 
Alvi appreciated the government for a comprehensive package for the construction industry in order to uplift the weak segments of the society. 
People were being provided easy loans to build their own houses, he said, adding that these achievements on the economic front were a reality and the opposition would have to accept it. 
He said the agriculture sector witnessed a growth of 2.7 percent, while exports in the IT sector touched the mark of $2.12 billion, along with various programs to provide skill training to the youth. He said 1.7 million people had so far been provided vocational training in this regard. 
The president lauded a number of social security initiatives under the Ehsaas program for socio-economic development of people, saying Rs208 billion rupees had been allocated for the program that were to benefit about 30 percent of the country’s population. 
Among the other initiatives he mentioned were the Ehsaas Nashonuma, Waseela Taleem, Ehsaas Kafalat, Ehsaas Scholarship, Emergency Cash, Langarkhana and Koi Bhooka Na Soye programs, which he said would significantly contribute to socio-economic development across the country. 
“Pakistan is heading toward universal health coverage under the government’s Sehat Sahulat Programme,” Alvi said. “Eighteen million families are currently benefiting from this program and hopefully the health card scheme will soon reach every corner of the country.” 
About the education sector, he said the government has introduced a single national curriculum and announced massive scholarships for students to promote education in the country. 
Regarding protection of women rights, the president said the government had not only legislated, but also taken administrative measures to prevent incidents of sexual harassment against women and children. He appreciated the government for undertaking legislation to protect women’s hereditary rights. 
On climate change, Alvi said the government had launched the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami and Clean Green Pakistan initiatives to mitigate negative impacts of environmental degradation.