News
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Politicians united against any threat to democracy* Gilani says masses should support, help stabilise democratic set-up g Sees no threat to democracy
* Aid among flood victims being disbursed in transparent manner
* Supporters of Kalabagh Dam did nothing during their tenure
LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said that all politicians and political forces were united in their stance against anyone who tried to destabilise democracy.
“The Pakistani nation has always shown unity and stood firm in times of difficulty. The parliamentarians and political forces are also united against whoever talks about destabilising the democratic set up in the country,” the PM said while talking to reporters in Lahore.
“Democracy is the future of Pakistan and due to it, the entire world respects us. The masses should support and help stabilise the democratic set up in the country,” Gilani added.
Responding to a question, the PM said, “I don’t see any threat to democracy in the country.” The PM said that people who were now raising the demand for the construction of the Kalabagh Dam did nothing to start the project when they themselves were in power.
To a question about the ongoing violence in Indian-held Kashmir, the PM said that Pakistan strongly condemned human rights violations in IHK and all other parts of the world.
“India should resolve all outstanding issues with Pakistan, including the Kashmir dispute, through dialogue,” he added.
The prime minister said that Pakistan had not signed any trade agreement with India under the Afghan Transit Trade Agreement.
To a question, the PM said that he had asked the European Union to provide Pakistan more access to international markets.
Referring to the ongoing flood relief efforts, the PM said that the flood-affected people had dry rations, food and other edibles in abundance, but they were in dire need of tents. “Once the tents are provided to them, 80 percent of their problems will be resolved,” he said.
Gilani said that he would issue a notification regarding the formation of the National Oversight Disaster Management Council (NODMC) within the next two days.
“The council will be entrusted to look after the entire process of collection of donation as well as distribution of relief goods and compensation amount among the affected people,” he added.
He said the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) was distributing electronic cards to ensure transparency in the distribution of Rs 20,000 among each flood-affected family. “In the next phase, the families will be given Rs 80,000 for the reconstruction of their homes. The government will spend a total of Rs 350 billion on compensating the flood victims,” he added.
Gilani urged the international community to play its role in helping Pakistan deal with the flood crisis.
The PM said that the federal government had so far received relief goods that arrived in 150 aircraft from foreign countries and had distributed the aid through provincial governments. app/daily times monitor
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk