PPP enumerates 43 success stories during Zardari’s first year

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Rana Aftab enlists 43 points, says much more for people in the pipeline
* Says government wants strong democratic institutions

LAHORE: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Punjab has enumerated at least 43 success stories of the PPP government during the first year of President Asif Ali Zardari in the Presidency.

PPP Punjab President Rana Aftab Ahmed, in a press conference at the PPP’s Punjab Secretariat on Tuesday, enumerated 43 points, besides announcing that much more was in the pipeline for the country. He said after 33 years of dictatorship, the country had become a terrorists’ den, but due to the wise policies of the president, the government overcame all problems in one year and brought the country on the right track. He said it was due to Zardari’s prudence that there was peace in Pakistan. He described different successes of the government under the leadership of the PPP co-chairman:

* Success in getting IMF loan and minimising the effects of economic recession

* Success in the war on terror, removing militants from Swat and return of two million IDPs to their homes

* An increase in the American non-military aid on a yearly basis

* Efforts for inviting foreign investment in the country

* Successful foreign tours for building the image of Pakistan abroad

* Efforts for empowering women and legislation in this regard

* Announcement of “Bibi Behan Basti Programme” under the Benazir Income Support Programme

* Transferring powers to Gilgit-Baltistan

* Restoration of judges and accepting decisions of superior judiciary to avoid any conflict

* Overcoming the energy crisis up to some extent through rental power plants and a plan to generate 2,250MW electricity by the next six months

* Promoting reconciliation and bringing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif to a one-point agenda

* Constituting a committee to resolve the ongoing Balochistan crises and apologising to the Baloch

* Setting up a committee to present recommendations to abolish the 17th Amendment and Article 58(2B)

* Accepting the supremacy of parliament and addressing parliament twice a year

* Efforts for improving relations with India and the Muslim countries

* Efforts to ensure the access of Pakistani traders to the European Union markets

* Civil nuclear agreement with France

* Conducting investigations of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination through the United Nations

* Promoting and accepting a free media

* Initiating the Benazir Income Support Programme

* Initiating the Benazir Bhutto Tractor Scheme and an increase in the price of wheat

* Announcing the establishment of housing colonies for workers

* Policy making in health and education sectors

* Announcement of Rs 50 billion bail-out package to support the stock market

* An increase in the foreign exchange reserves from $4 billion to $14 billion

* Reinstating 6,000 terminated employees

* Saving domestic banks from global economic recession

* Proposing US drone attacks with the help of Pakistan

* Proposing to make Pakistan, China and India a common market

* Initiating Pakistan, Iran and Turkey train

* Abolishing the political cell of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and keeping the army from politics

* Passing the Defence Bill in parliament

* Taking all political forces on board in operation Rah-i-Rast

* Issuing special directions to ministers for resolving the issues faced by the people

* Urging the international community to offer help instead of demanding ‘more’

* Promises of $5 billion in aid from the Friends of Democratic Pakistan

* Increasing funds for all provinces in the 7th NFC Award

* Decision to establish a unified local government system for the four provinces

* Principled stance on equalising the salaries of police officials across the country

* Decision to provide internships to those having

MA degrees

* Starting efforts to implement the Accountability Bill 2009

* Formulating legislation to stop political victimisation

* Rejecting any proposal for a separate province

* Making the international community realise that Pakistan wants trade, not aid

Strong institutions: Aftab said the PPP government wanted to strengthen the democratic institutions and worked for the welfare of the people. He said the PPP wanted to take all stakeholders on board to resolve the issues that faced the country. To a question on the minus-one formula, he said floating such rumours was not new in the country. PPP Punjab General Secretary Samiullah Khan, Information Secretary Dr Fakharud Din and Deputy Secretary Usman Malik were also present on the occasion. staff report

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg7_24