Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday denounced the demand of the opposition of stepping down over high inflation and said he had a mandate for five years, not a three-year one.

According to the 24News HD TV channel, PM Imran addressed the gathering and held a meeting with the Punjab authorities and local leadership of his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in district Attock.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Bazdad, Provincial Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Maj (R) Tahir Sadiq MNA, Syed Yawar Bukhari, Malik Muhammad Anwar, Malik Jamshed Altaf and PTI leaders attended the meeting.

Talking to elected representatives and the party leaders, the PM said it would be confirmed in five years whether poverty had been reduced in Pakistan or not.

PM Imran said he was fully known of the impact of inflation on the poor and his government was going to provide a 30 per cent subsidy to them on flour, pulses, and ghee (cooking oil).

He said the government was currently running a deficit of Rs450 billion to control inflation, adding that when he came to power, the total economic deficit was Rs20 billion that was reduced to Rs1 billion within a year.

He said Pakistan received the impact of price hikes in the international market. He said Health cards would be introduced in the entire province of Punjab and Kamyab Pakistan Programme would provide interest-free loans to two million households.

He also advised his party leadership that they should mobilize for the welfare of the poor and needy people.

The PM also laid a foundation of a zacha-bacha hospital in the district during his visit.

Reporter: Awais Kiyani