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Saturday, November 17, 2012Zardari reaches Multan to woo ‘Saraiki belt’
* President says govt will plead case to make S Punjab a separate province
* Removes reservations of Gilani family
MULTAN: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday reiterated commitment of the government to continue working for socio-economic welfare of the people of south Punjab and to plead the case for creation of a separate province as per their aspirations.
He was interacting with the parliamentarians and the notables of south Punjab at the residence of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani during his visit to Multan. The president was accompanied by federal ministers and parliamentarians, including Makhdoom Amin Faheem, Syed Khursheed Shah, Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo and Nazar Gondal. He was received by Yousaf Raza Gilani, Federal Minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin, MNA Ali Musa Gilani, Abdul Kadir Gilani and other notables of the area upon his arrival at the Multan airport.
During his interactions, Zardari said the government was committed to bringing less-developed areas at par with other parts of the country. He said the government would continue making every possible effort for the socio-economic and political development of the people of south Punjab. He said the government believes in respecting the legitimate aspirations of the people of southern Punjab and efforts would continue in meeting the commitments made by the government with the people of the Saraiki belt.
President Zardari managed to woo former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and removed all reservations of the Gilani family in a one-on-one meeting. Zardari and the Gilani family discussed FIA notices issued to the latter. The FIA had summoned Yousaf Raza Gilani and his son Abdul Qadir Gilani on November 16. President Zardari and Yousaf Raza Gilani also discussed probable candidates for the PPP in southern Punjab.
The president noted during the meeting that the PPP did not have the required majority to make a Saraiki province. However, Gilani assured the president that if a bill was presented in parliament for the formation of a Saraiki province, several members of the PML-N would vote for it. He said that he was punished for supporting demand for Saraiki province. He said that he would even meet people at the union council level for the establishment of the proposed province. Responding to a demand for subsidy to south Punjab farmers on bills of agriculture tube wells, the president promised if the suggestion was applicable it would be implemented.
Zardari said the democratic government has to its credit many achievements including successes in the fight against militancy, granting of autonomy to provinces, bringing in eighteenth and twentieth constitutional amendments, the NFC Award and introduction of Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package. He said the government was also pursuing and strengthening the process of reconciliation, launched the Benazir Income Support Programme, gave share to workers in state-run-enterprises, gave identity to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and legislated to protect women from all sorts of exploitations. The president said the developmental programmes undertaken by the present government in south Punjab would bring greater economic prosperity in the area. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk