ISLAMABAD (DNA) – Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan said the affairs of state cannot run without taxes and government would not be blackmailed by any one. She said traders are partners of the government and we would solve their issues. She said status quo would definitely resist when challenged by the state.

Addressing a presser along with federal minister Khusro Bakhtiar, she said only 600 out of 2000 shopkeepers are filing their taxes, adding that economy cannot be run on loans. She said the traders should choose negotiation table instead of protests. She added that traders must not promote someone’s political agenda.

SAPM said accountability judge Arshad Malik has been barred from working, adding that speeches of convicted people are aired on media. She said no twitter account was blocked by information ministry.

Firdous said beneficiaries of status quo are hindering the path of progress. She  said courts are the appropriate forum to respond to the issues being faced by the leadership of PML-N, and not workers conventions.She said traders are partners of the government and we would solve their issues.

She said former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi spent lavishly during his brief tenure. He made nine foreign trips in 2017, in which he spent 24 days abroad and took 109 people as delegation members with him.

He spent 111.74 million rupees of national exchequer. In 2018, former Prime Minister made 10 foreign trips for 26 days and took 105 people with him, costing 147.8 million to the national kitty. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi spent 5.48 million rupees as tips to the people, she added.

Referring to situation in Sindh, she said the people of province have now realized that corruption is the main reason for the problems being faced by them.