Follow your dreams, burn your boats: PM

 LAHORE: Some people, including a couple of journalists, try to link Pakistan to its current and temporary problems, to not the dreams that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf is striving to understand , said Prime Minister Imran Khan as he inaugurated the Ravi Riverfront Urban Project here on Tuesday.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony at Kala Khatai, alittle town on the outskirts of Lahore, the prime minister said: “When you ask people stuck during a calamity just like the recent urban flooding at Karachi, how you discover (the PTI-promised) Naya Pakistan, how are they expected to respond? in fact , they bemoan price hike, unemployment, etc. of these troubles are then linked to Naya Pakistan.

“That is, however, not the Naya Pakistan. Rather, it's what I personally aspire for. An old adage advises: don’t judge people on what they need achieved, but on what they aspire for. All big leaders round the world, who transformed their societies, succeeded not due to any education or other particular human faculties but only because they dreamed big. Mahathir Mohamad, who built Malaysia anew, is one example. All big feasts, national or personal, were dreamed first and achieved later. The PTI is dreaming big for Pakistan. Follow your dreams, burn your boats.”

Mr Khan then elaborating on the PTI model of Riyasat-i-Madina for Naya Pakistan said it had been built on compassion. “The builders didn't await affluence to arrive first then choose their dream state, rather they built it on [the basis of] empathy and sympathy [where] Ansaar shared their meager wealth with those that migrated from Makkah after the Holy Prophet (PBUH) migrated to Madina. China became modern-day example of an equivalent when it lifted 700 million poor out of poverty – an idea for Pakistan also ,” the prime minister stated.

Imran blames some people for linking Pakistan to temporary problems and to not PTI dreams

He said it's for this guideline that the PTI created shelter homes. “Now it's within the process of setting standards for them ensuring clean water, standard meal, clean bedding then on in order that the less fortunate also feel being a part of the society. While traveling through Lahore, I had seen people sleeping on roadsides and always dreamt for doing something for them. Now shelter homes are there to serve them,” he added.

Even during the Covid-19 crisis, his “feelings” for those people guided the govt policy, he said, recalling that he had been advised repeatedly to travel for complete lockdown, but “I always asked what the poor would do and avoided complete shutdown”.

In the same spirit, he said, the govt decided that each one new housing schemes, including Ravi Riverfront project, should spare some (affordable houses) for the less privileged. the govt had spared another Rs30 billion for subsiding construction for those that couldn't afford it at current market rates, he announced.

About the Ravi Riverfront project, Mr Khan said: “This is extremely important because Lahore, where 40 per cent people sleep in slums, needs it. As Lahore had spread in hit or miss way within the past, this project will knock some sanity in town planning . it'll also improve city aquifer and restore glory of the River Ravi, as Singaporeans did for his or her river running through the town . Pakistan needs it to kick starter the development industry.” The premier assured all-out help to the relevant authorities for early and smooth completion of the project.