News
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Economy improving as GDP rises to 4.1pc, says Gilani
* PM says constitution made democratic through 18th, 19th amendments
* Govt initiated Aghaz Haqooq-e-Balochistan
LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Saturday that the economy of the country was improving on account of sagacious policies adopted by the government and the GDP rate had risen from 1.2 percent to 4.1 percent in 2010.
He said this while addressing the certificate distribution ceremony of the participants of the eighth Senior Management Course and the 93rd National Management Course at National School of Public Policy.
He said the government restored the judiciary, including the chief justice of Pakistan to pre-November 3 position through executive order, which proved that the PPP-led government respected the judiciary.
He said it was the first time in the history of Pakistan that President Asif Ali Zardari delegated his powers to parliament.
Gilani said the constitution was made more democratic through 18th Amendment and the procedure of the appointment of the judges was improved by introducing 19th Amendment to the constitution, which was another achievement of the government.
He referred to achievements of the government and said it had initiated “Aghaz Haqooq-e-Balochistan programme, Benazir Income Support Programme, gave self-governance and empowerment to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. The gas pipeline agreement among three countries was another achievement of the government, he added.
He said coalition governments were formed in the centre and the provinces, through a process of mutual adjustment and fostering harmony. The idea was to call forth the united representative will of the people and to develop a `national’ agenda rather than a narrow partisan, self-serving goal for the government, he said.At times, he said, “This caused difficulties, leading to stresses and strains within the coalition partners, but the government remained committed to the policy of national reconciliation for the common good of the country.”
“We scarified our own party interests for the sake of larger national interests. The promotion of these interests is indeed a matter of great pride and satisfaction to us,” he said.
He said focus of the government was on the progress of the country according to Benazir Bhutto’s vision and it needed help of the civil servants.
He said that the government had done a lot for the betterment of the nation despite challenges on different fronts.
The government was determined to eliminate terrorism from the country and it had made important achievements towards it, he said and mentioned successes in Swat and South Waziristan.
He urged the participants of the courses that they should devote themselves to their work for the betterment of the country.
He said all governments in the past played their role for the development of the country within the available resources. The incumbent government had also contributed in the progress of the country despite several challenges like terrorism, flood and economic recession.
He appreciated the NSPP administration for contributing to the progress of the country by producing trained managers, and stressed the need for introducing course for the parliamentarians.
He said the country today was stable and strong and it would become stronger in future with the help of civil servants.
Earlier, the premier gave away certificates to 55 participants of the 93rd National Management Course and 133 participants of the eighth Senior Management Course from several departments.
He visited the NSPP library after certificate distribution ceremony. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk