All Senators to get Rs 10 million each as development funds: PM

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday assured that government will provide Rs. 10 million each as development funds to all Senators from treasury as well as from opposition benches.“All MNAs and Senators will get equal funds for the development of their respective areas. This is not any favour from the government, as it will go from national kitty which is public money and should be spent for the welfare of masses”, he said.
The Prime Minister was speaking at a dinner hosted by him in honour of members of the Upper House of Parliament here at the PM House.
Besides the Senators from the government and opposition benches, Chairman Senate Muhammadmian Soomro, Leader of the House in Senate Mian Raza Rabbani, parliamentary leaders of various parties in the Senate and members of the federal cabinet were present at the dinner.
The Prime Minister said the Senate, which was created under the 1973 Constitution, is the symbol of Federation as it gives equal representation to all provinces.
He said the creation of Senate under the 1973 Constitution - which is a unanimous and practical document and a basis for keeping the Federation intact - was meant to protect the rights of provinces particulary the smaller provinces and remove their sense of deprivation.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said present coalition government was fighting for the rights of people and committed to the restoration of Constitution, strengthening of all institutions and freedom of press.
“The people have voted us for this purpose”, he added.
He said people want rule of law and strengthening of the institutions, adding, the institutions like Public Accounts Committee should be strengthened to ensure accountability.
“We respect all the institutions whether it is army, judiciary or media”, the Prime Minister said. “We do not want clash of institutions but want to run the country under the ambit of 1973 Constitution.”
He said as the country was passing through a difficult situation, there was a need to follow a reconciliatory approach.
The Prime Minister referred to his 100-day programme announced in the National Assembly and said the actions like elimination of draconian laws of PEMRA Ordinance and the end of concurrent list were aimed at strengthening the institutions and empower the provinces.
“We should not indulge in the debate of what the previous governments did, rather we should look ahead for the progress and prosperity of the country”, he added.
The Prime Minister was appreciative of opposition for giving him a unanimous vote of confidence in the National Assembly and said, “I want to take all the parties along.”