All MNAs to get Rs 10 million development fund

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday announced Rs 10 million development funds for the ongoing fiscal year for all the members National Assembly irrespective of party affiliation.
Chairing a parliamentary party meeting of the ruling coalition at the Parliament House, the Prime Minister said his government wants to take along every member of the august house in the development of country, irrespective of party affiliation.
The Prime Minister referred to Tuesday’s decision of the ECC of lifting inter-district ban on wheat and said that soon a meeting would be convened to consider lifting inter-provincial movement of wheat and to stop smuggling of atta.
He said the government was working to frame a comprehensive food and agriculture policy, to be announced shortly, which would give incentives on fertilizers and tractors. He said the cabinet has already held three while ECC two meetings to discuss these issues.
The parliamentary meeting also thoroughly discussed the current electricity shortage in the country and the Prime Minister stressed for short term and long term measures to curb the power and energy shortage in the country.
He said new power generation plants are being set up in the country, but said for addressing the problem on urgent basis short term measures like conservation and switching to energy saver bulbs was also important.
The Prime Minister informed the meeting that government was working on a comprehensive energy policy, in which all the energy and power issues will be addressed.
He said the present government inherited a bad economy due to non-prudent policies of the previous government, but vowed to come upto expectations of the people and take the country out of the present economic crunch.
He said the people of Pakistan have given the ruling coalition an overwhelming mandate and the government is firm to confront these issues on war footing.
Prime Minister Gilani said they have great respect for the mandate of the people in favour of democratic and moderate forces and reiterated that 1973 constitution would be restored in its true spirit.
He said his government was committed to make institutions stronger and ensure rule of law and supremacy of parliament.
Independence of judiciary, free and vibrant media will also be ensured, the Prime Minister added.
Every institution in the country, he said, will work according to its role which is enshrined in the 1973 constitution.
The members informed the prime minister about various issues pertaining to their constituencies.