News
Saturday, December 14, 2013
PPP to make a clean sweep in LB polls, says Zardari
* Bilawal terms GSP Plus status a triumph of former president’s ‘trade, not aid’ policy
ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Former President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will make a clean sweep in upcoming local bodies (LB) elections.
He was presiding over a high level meeting of office bearers of all PPP wings of the district during his one-day visit in Sanghar on Friday.
Zardari appealed party workers, members of national and provincial assemblies to uplift standard of the district up to Larkana and Nawabshah by serving masses day and night.
“I am proud of people of Sanghar and they will make all PPP candidates successful in the upcoming LB polls again,” former president said.
Zardari appealed the party workers to solve problems of masses selflessly after gaining positions in LB polls elections.
“People of the district have understood philosophy of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and that’s the big reason that people of other parties are joining the PPP,” Zardari added.
He also visited farm house situated in Pareetum Abad here along with MNAs and MPAs on the occasion.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Zardari welcomed the European Parliament’s decision to allow GSP-Plus status for Pakistan which will allow duty-free access of its products to the European markets. The Act will come into force on January 1 next year and will be effective till 2017.
The former president said it was heartening that the European Parliament approved measures under which Pakistan and some other countries will be entitled to the Generalized System of Preferences Plus Scheme.
He said the PPP government had adopted several measures to enable Pakistan qualify for the EU GSP Plus status and it was reassuring that the process reached its fruition. All those who have been associated with this national effort in the past and now, deserve to be complimented, he said.
Continuation of policies particularly in the economic sphere is the most critical if Pakistan has to overcome its myriad economic problems, the former president said.
Grant of GSP Plus status will send positive signals to the foreign investors that investing in Pakistan can be very profitable, Zardari added.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Patron-In-Chief, Pakistan Peoples Party also hailed the decision of EU in this regard.
He hoped with the fresh access to European market, Pakistan exports will earn a whooping amount estimated at Rs215 billion extra each year enabling the government to build thousands of schools and hospitals every year.
He pointed out that under directions of former president Asif Ali Zardari the PPP government had signed and ratified a number of conventions relating to human rights, labour rights and environment, lobbied at the highest level with countries of EU and set up special teams of experts and professionals in the ministries of commerce and foreign office to pursue the goal of GSP Plus status with the EU.
He eulogised the hard-work of ex-PPP prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani, ministers Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Hina Rabbani Khar and other team members spread over five years for lobbying and meeting the standards and criteria. “GSP-Plus status doesn’t come overnight. Behind it lay the great vision and foresight of former president Asif Ali Zardari and his team over the years,” he added.
Bilawal said PPP had always looked forward for the welfare of future Pakistan and its generations and always sacrificed its present for future generations. Instead of cosmetic schemes to lure the innocent people into debt traps, the PPP weaved long-term dreams for the economic prosperity of Pakistani masses. GSP-Plus status and the Pak-Iran Gas Pipleline are just a few landmark credits of the PPP’s last government at Center, he concluded. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk
Back to Top