Lahore: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan hit back his detractors for mocking his proposal to provide eggs and chicken to rural women as part of his government’s poverty alleviation programme, saying ‘colonised minds’ criticise him for the idea but will praise ‘wilayatis’ (foreigners) for the similar concept.
At a ceremony to mark his government’s 100 days in office, Khan had said his government would provide livestock and poultry to underprivileged women to encourage them to start their own business. He said that the project was tested and the government would provide injections (vaccines) to them for raising the chickens faster. “This way, they will have nutrient food for eating and more chickens and eggs to sell,” Khan had said.
Pakistan’s opposition parties mocked at the premier’s proposal, terming it as a “serious comedy” and as “another Google-it-solution” to improve the country’s ailing economy.
Reacting to opposition’s criticism Khan on Saturday tweeted: “For the colonised minds when desis (locals like him) talk about chickens combating poverty they get mocked, but when ‘walaitis’ (foreigners like Bill Gates) talk about desi chicken and poverty it’s brilliance.” He also referred to an article of Microsoft founder Bill Gates in which he talked about poultry initiative believing that “it is a way to lift citizens (of rural areas) out of poverty”.
Earlier, PML-N senior leader Ahsan Iqbal, in a series of tweets, said he was shocked to hear Imran Khan’s suggestion and concerned for his country at a time when fourth industrial revolution is on horizon.
Apart from Iqbal, former foreign minister Khwaja Asif said: “After the 100-day deliberations, the PTI has come up with this ‘hen-egg’ solution to improve our unstable economy… congratulations.”
PPP Senator Saeed Ghani said Prime Minister Khan revealed from where (Bill Gates) this ‘idea’ had come from. Besides, opposition parties, Khan also received flak from other section of the society on the social media for proposing this idea. Rights activist Marvi Sirmad said: “Turns out that whatever PM Khan was claiming about chickens, eggs and calves as his revolutionary programmes, have already been in practice in Punjab at least. This happens after he inaugurated a university in Sialkot, which was already inaugurated by Shahbaz Sharif.”
But former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi and Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI), came out in his defence, saying those poking fun at the premier should pause and read what Bill Gates has to say on the chicken and egg theory of poverty alleviation.
“Those who are poking fun of Imran Khan and PTI for the chicken and egg theory of poverty alleviation should pause and read what Bill Gates has to say on the subject.” Sethi tweeted.
Defending its chairman the PTI, on its official Twitter account, said “Microsoft founder Bill Gates launched a campaign to help extremely poor families in Africa by giving them chickens.
However, when PM Imran Khan talks about it, it becomes an issue. Propagandists really can not rise above their hate.” (PTI)
