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Senate expresses gratitude to president's address
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Friday expressed gratitude to the President Asif Ali Zardari for his address to the joint sitting of the parliament.Winding up debate on president's address to the joint sitting of the parliament, Minister for Law and Justice Moula Bakhsh Chandio said it is the distinction of the incumbent president that he addressed the joint sitting for the fourth consecutive time which is unprecedented in the history.
He said though the opposition parties resorted to the protest during the speech but this also reflects that the parliamentary norms and traditions are gaining strengthen in the country.
He said it is the right of the opposition to criticize the president's address but it should be constructive and not be criticism for the sake of criticism.
He said the president's address envisages future course of action for the country and the opposition's criticism in this regard is baseless.
The Law Minister said the country is facing multiple challenges and not a single party can overcome them. Therefore all the political parties should join hands to put the country on the path of development and promotion of democracy.
He said the credit goes to the present government for restoring the constitution in its original form and due to its prudent policies the government has entered into its fourth year of tenure.
Referring to the steps taken for the welfare of the people Moula Bakhsh Chandio said the present government gave fifty per cent raise in the salaries to the employees last year besides the fifteen per cent increase this year.
In addition, the labourers and workers have been given shares in public entities. He said a plan is also under consideration to give land to the landless farmers in the Sindh province.
Earlier taking part in the debate Taking part in the debate Professor Khurshid Ahmad expressed dismay over the presidential address saying it did not highlight the issues faced by the country and the future policies and initiatives of the government.
He said the president is the symbol of the federation and its office should not be used for political purposes.
Ishaque Dar said the country is facing the challenges of extremism and terrorism and it is high time for the government and the president to give a clear road map to confront them.
He said the president in his address has mentioned about tax reforms, revival of economy and restructuring of state-owned institutions but regrettably no step in that direction has yet been taken.
He said we should exploit our natural resources besides extending support to the agriculture and industrial sectors to achieve a sustainable economic growth rate.
Courtesy www.geo.tv