Govt committed to overcome challenges: PM

Govt committed to overcome challenges: PM

Updated at: 1912 PST,  Friday, March 05, 2010  ISLAMABAD: The government during the last two years not only made concerted efforts towards fulfillment of the promises made in the political manifesto but also remained committed to overcoming a number of inherited problems. The Prime Minister said this in his address aired live on Radio Pakistan as part of his initiative to take the nation into confidence on the steps being taken by the government in connection with the Constitutional reforms, the ongoing war against terrorism and matters relating to overall governance. He said the government addressed a number of challenges including war against terrorism, political and legal issues, energy crisis, food shortage and economic instability besides lack of confidence in the people. “We have committed ourselves towards ensuring the supremacy of the Parliament and the Constitution,” the Prime Minister pointed out, adding, “the government also honoured the Supreme Court’s ruling on the judges appointments.” As for the Constitutional reforms, the nation will soon get good news in this regard, Gilani said. He said the government took a number of landmark initiatives and steps including provision of internal sovereignty to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan; introduction and implementation of Balochistan package besides clearing long-standing arrears of NWFP. The Premier said the backbone of the terrorists has been cracked and the day is not far when the government will finally wipe them out completely. He also paid tributes to the armed forces for their impressive role in tackling the menace of terrorism. He said the frustrated terrorists when headed towards the settled areas had were once again defeated by the people. The poor are being provided special financial support of Rs70 billion under Benazir Income Support Programme and Waseela-e-Haq undertaken in a transparent manner, he claimed. Government had provided a subsidy amounting to Rs3 billion to the Utility Stores across the country besides raising salaries and pensions of the government servants. The minimum salary of was also increased to Rs6,000 from Rs4,600, he added. He urged the political parties and experts to give positive and practical suggestions to the government. “We don’t mind the criticism by the media and opposition but use it to make amends but it is also the duty of the critics not to ignore the moral grounds and facts,” he stressed. This was the first live address to the nation by the Prime Minister on the Radio in line with the government’s earlier announcement of addressing the nation on the first Friday of every month.