News
Sunday, June 24, 2012
‘Need to restore peace, overcome load shedding in country’
* New PM will safeguard democracy, resolve public issues: Senator Lot
By Nawaz Khuhro
KARACHI: Central Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and Senator Gul Mohammad Lot said on Saturday that newly elected Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf would safeguard democracy and resolve public problems on priority basis.
In an interview to Daily Times, Senator Lot congratulated new prime minister and hoped that he would tackle all challenges with the help of party leadership and coalition partners as per party policy. “The foremost need in the country is to restore peace, particularly in Karachi, and overcome power load shedding. I am optimistic that new prime minister will resolve these issues amicably,” Lot said.
The senator said: “Local and foreign businessmen want peace and will make more investment in the country, if there will be durable peace. “Overcoming load shedding is also mandatory for reducing cost of business and providing relief to the people, and that is why the PPP government is making hectic efforts to resolve this issue. New prime minister will do better in this regard,” he hoped.
To a question, he said new prime minister may also not write letter to Swiss authorities, however, the PPP government was determined to complete its five-year tenure under the dynamic leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari. We are also optimistic to get victory in next general elections with the support of people. The PPP is the party of poor masses and we are focusing to resolve issues of the downtrodden people, he said.
The senator said that since inception, PPP government had been inherited lot of problems like inflation in Musharraf era, but we are working to bring the inflation to single digit. Lot said that federal government had presented balanced budget, which was tax-free. This budget will provide 100,000 jobs. “Rs70 billion have been allocated for Benazir Income Support Programme, which is 20 percent higher as compared to last year.” He said that Pakistan would receive a record foreign remittances of over $ 13 billion this fiscal year in view of overseas Pakistanis confidence in the economic policies of the government, which would provide greater boost to balance of payment and put the economy on path to stability.
”General Sales Tax (GST) has been brought to 16 percent from 16-22 percent, which is another good sign of the budget, while significant reduction has been made in prices of petroleum products, which was one of the greatest benefits of the government. Such more benefit will be provide to the people very soon,” he said. It may be noted that for some items, GST was up to 22 percent.” He said that the government is also providing money under employment scheme.
Commenting on Pakistan’s external situation, Lot said that after 9/11, Pakistan had been victim of global war on terror. “Our country has suffered 75 to 80 billion dollars loss in this war, but only 20 to 22 billion dollars compensation has yet been paid, which is matter of great concern.” He said that 55 percent population of the country comprises youth in age range of 20-22 and 98 percent of them need job, so it is not possible for the government to provide jobs to all of them, so youth should focus on private sector jobs.Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk