Shumaila Andleeb
ISLAMABAD, Jul 25, 2008 (APP): Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday said the government gives high priority to economic stability and strengthening of law
and order in the country, considering it necessary elements to ensure good governance.
Speaking to senior newspaper editors at the PM House, Prime Minister Gilani said to ensure economic stability in the country, the government even had to take some “unpopular decisions” just to put the country on right direction.
Gilani said his government was aware of the sufferings of common man, but was compelled to take some decisions on increase in petrol prices and food
commodities for the country’s overall economic stability.
He said inflation was not only a Pakistan-specific issue but was a result of global trend in oil prices.
The Prime Minister stressed the need to check the smuggling of food items to control their prices.
He said the government had decided to give relief to the poorest of the poor and mentioned Benazir Income Support Program which would initially benefit 3.8
million people against poverty.
Gilani said the poor people identified through NADRA, would be facilitated across the board without any political discrimination.
The Prime Minister said nobody would be allowed to destabilize the country.
He said his government believed in dialogue with tribals and majority of tribal elders assured of their full support to the government in its efforts in war
against terrorism.
“Ninety nine percent of the tribal people are sincere and committed to the country,” he said, adding some miscreants financed by external elements were
involved in tarnishing peace in the area.
He termed suicide bombings as against the spirit of Islam and most detrimental to the country’s image abroad.
To a question regarding his stance during his upcoming meeting with US President George Bush on terrorism in tribal areas, the Prime Minister said no decision would be taken against the sovereignty of Pakistan.
“There will be no compromise on the sovereignty, dignity and self-respect of the country,” Gilani categorically added.
The Prime Minister said he had focused on the policy of dialogue during his earlier meeting with President Bush in Sharm El Sheikh, reiterating that Pakistan does not consider military action as the solution to this problem.
He said he would expand the cabinet after his return from United States, to ensure the resolution of common man’s problems by taking up their issues on
priority basis.
He said 10 parliamentary secretaries had been appointed, and soon the list proposed by Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam would be announced as well.
On judges restoration, the Prime Minister said all coalition parties were being consulted for the solution, and he would not waste any moment to take the
decision as soon as there was some consensus by the party heads.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan Peoples Party was the symbol of federation, provincial unity and democracy.
He said his election as a non-Bhutto and non- Sindhi prime minister was an evidence of PPP’s strong belief in democratic norms.
On working with president, Gilani said his government believed in balance of power and dispelled the impression that PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari
influenced the government’s decisions.