Fawad Chaudhry tells nation not to look towards government for jobs

Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry created a stir once again when he said that the nation should not look towards the government for jobs.

Addressing a conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, the minister said that the government is, in fact, going to disband 400 departments.

“If you start looking towards the government for jobs, our economy will collapse,” he stated.

Chaudhry explained that his statement was taken out of context and was being misinterpreted. In a tweet, he explained that jobs are provided by the private sector while the government’s responsibility is to create an environment where jobs are created. But the government cannot accommodate everyone in government departments.

حیران ہوں ہر بیان کو کیسے سیاق و سباق کے بغیر سرخی بنا دیا جاتا ہے، کہا تھا نوکریاں حکومت نہیں پرائیویٹ سیکٹر دیتا ہے حکومت نے ماحول پیدا کرنا ہے جہاں نوکریاں ہوں یہ نہیں کہ ہر شخص سرکاری نوکری ڈھونڈے

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) October 15, 2019

Meanwhile, PTI’s manifesto states otherwise:

Create 10 million jobs and strengthen the labour market

PTI will strengthen the labour market and create 10 million jobs over 5 years in key sectors: SME, housing, ICT, health, education, green economy and tourism.

Article 38 of the constitution states that the “state shall provide for all citizens, within the available resources of the country, facilities for work and adequate livelihood”. Approximately two million additional youth enter the labour force each year, which totals to 10 million over the next 5 years. We believe Pakistan’s youth can become its biggest asset. However, if we do not take action, the youth dividend can also become our biggest challenge and lead to drastic economic and social consequences.

Meanwhile, Minister for Water and Resources, Faisal Vawda, in early April had said that there will be a burst of jobs in Pakistan in the coming weeks.

Six months later we have seen no burst. Is the PTI going back on its promises?