National Assembly too will endorse RGST: Prime Minister

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said here on Saturday that the government is in the process of reprioritising the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in view of the recent unprecedented floods in the country, and maximum resources would be allocated to the provinces under the NFC Award.

Talking to reporters after inauguration of the country's first 'Liver Transplant Centre' here at the Shaikh Zayed Hospital, he expressed optimism that the National Assembly, like the Senate, would also adopt the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) Bill. However, he said, "The government will entertain diverse views on the RGST with positive intent, and the opposition has every right to criticise."

He added that the parliament was his real strength. Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, Federal Health Minister Shahab-ud-din and Prime Minister's Political Advisor Ghazanfar Gul were also present on the occasion. When asked about Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif's meeting with the Army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, he said that there was nothing to worry about it as the country's security situation and the war on terror had prompted the meetings between the two.

"Pakistan Army is pro-democracy and loyal to the country. We have complete confidence in our armed forces, which have the support of the masses on the issue of war against terror and no battle could be won without support of public," he said.

Gilani said that the proposed flood surcharge is aimed at helping the rehabilitation of flood affectees and it would also show the nation's gesture to stand by with their flood-hit brethren at this hour of need. "If we expect the world to help us with the money of their taxpayers, the world also expects us to pay taxes and generate revenue for the rehabilitation of our people," the Prime Minister said. The affluent sections of society must come forward and join for a cause aimed at serving the humanity in need, he added.

About comments by the Leader of the Opposition Nisar Ali Khan on RGST, he said he has great respect for Nisar, and added that difference of opinion was the spirit of democracy. He added that the government would continue to take along all political forces to strengthen democracy in the country. He said the government would also welcome healthy criticism by opposition to smoothly run the state affairs. For the first time in the country's democratic history, politics of reconciliation with new political culture, free from political victimisation, was introduced by the PPP and there were no political prisoners behind the bars, he added.

Regarding the conviction of Asia Bibi and reports of bringing changes in the blasphemy law, Gilani said: "It is a non-issue." About the allocation of health budget, he said that health and education sectors were among the top priority of the PPP government and Ministry of Health was among the first 10 ministries that would be devolved under the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

Inaugurating the Liver Transplant Centre, he said that uplift of social sector, especially health, is on top priority of the government's agenda and despite financial constraints every effort would be made to provide necessary resources for this purpose. He said the inauguration of the Liver Transplant Centre is a demonstration of the government's commitment to the cause of healthcare. He added that the liver transplant programme with 180 million rupees is an appreciable act within the existing resources and facilities at Shaikh Zayed Hospital. He said the commissioning of this centre would save huge foreign exchange spent on availing such facility abroad.

The premier said he had asked for the establishment of a liver transplant centre at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in the federal capital which would also be operational within six months. He said that hepatitis is a big problem, which can only be defeated through vaccine. He asked doctors to devote their energies to the service of suffering masses in the face of burden of liver diseases.

The premier also appreciated Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for allocating 600 kanal land for the Benazir Bhutto Campus of the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan Dental College in the provincial metropolis. He announced a grant of Rs 180 million for the Benazir Bhutto Campus of the dental college. He further announced a grant of Rs 100 million for operational expenses of patient care at the Liver Transplant Centre. Earlier, the premier inaugurated the 16-bed Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplant Centre at the Shaikh Zayed Hospital. The Prime Minister also had a round of the ward.