Government to take along coalition partners to confront all challenges; Gilani

MULTAN : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Sunday said the coalition government will take along all its partners to resolve the challengs confronting the country.Addressing a large gathering here at the Multan Public School to distribute cheques among the deserving for health, education and small business, worth around Rs 90 million, the Prime Minister vowed to protect all national institutions.
Prime Minister said that PPP’s founder-chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto founded a strong federal system in which Parliament and Constitution rule supreme and gave this nation a unanimous Constitution of 1973 which has kept the federation intact and it will be protected and upheld at all cost.
He said the federation today owes its strength to this constitution and pointed out that the the clause of amending the constitution through two-third majority was placed to ensure that all major decisions are taken with consensus and the rights of the small provinces are protected.
“Parliament will not be a mere rubber stamp and all institutions will be protected, while judiciary and media freedom will be ensured,” Gilani said. He said cheap justice at the door steps of the people will serve each and every person across the country and help make the country strong.
The Prime Minister quoted British Premier Churchill who had said if British courts are working independently then the country faces no danger.
He said the challenges being faced by the masses were not easy to address and will take time, but the Prime Minister vowed that these would be met.
“We would not blame the previous governments for all the prevailing ills. Now the people have given us the mandate and it is now our responsibility to tackle all the challenges with courage and determination to provide the best possible facilities to the people,” the Prime Minister said.
Owing to the large number of cheques, the Prime Minister handed over the cheques to heads of various departments. The money was distributed among 4000 recepients.
He said the PPP was given a split mandate in the Feb 18 elections and in the supreme national interest the party formed coalition governments at the centre and in the four provinces. He said these are broad-based dispensations.
He said it was the endeavour of the PPP government to take along all its coalition partners to serve the masses and address their long standing problems and meet their just demands.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said the government was currently facing numeous challenges in all areas, but the government was determined to address these through prudent policies. He cited end of poverty as his government’s top priority. Provision of employment was a key element of the planning of his government, he added.
He said around 25 percent of country’s population were living below the line of poverty, while 56 percent constituted the middle class, living at the threshold. He added that it was government’s endeavour to maintain balance by increasing the middle class. He said the government was endeavouring to bridge the divide between the rich and the poor.
He said the poor were suffering the most and the government was helping them through Pakistan Baitul Mal.
The Prime Minister said 85 percent of the people did not have full access to health and education and can be termed as the most vulnerable sections of the society.
He said for health and education sector the Pakistan Baitul Mal has provided 7.500 million which were being given to 2.5 million people, while the allocation for food support program has been increased to rupees six billion, while under the child support program free uniform, books and and food will be provided to encourage them to get education, and Rs 150 million has been allocated for the Jinnah burn centre.
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani appreciated the Managing Director of Pakistan Baitul Mal Brig. Sarfraz and his entire team for the good work done to help the needy. He also noted the computerisation of the PBM which has also been appreciated by the United Nations.
He said Rs 30,000 will be provided to 1000 students of Bahauddin university, along with 500 students from Nishtar medical college. He said 120 children will be provided free education, books, uniform and Rs 300 per month to encourage them to study in the labour colony.
Multan will also have a diagnostic centre, while free treatment will be provided to patients suffering from Hepatitis and cancer and two dialysis centres will be established with the cooperation of NGOs, he said adding, at the Tehsil level centres will be setup for women trainings in various fields.
The Prime Minister pointed that 53 items have shown an increase of 12.2 percent in their prices and was continuing to increase. He said this was a strong cause of concern in the society about the shortage of electricity and gas and rising prices of everyday commodities.
He addded that these crisis were not created overnight but were the result of wrong policies that have created this situation. However, he said the government was in the process of taking steps to improve the situation, as the nation has reposed confidence on the new leadership.
He said vocational training was being provided to the people so that they may turn out to be useful citizens of the society and contribute to the national economy.
Brig. (Retd) Mohd Sarfraz MD Pakistan Baitul Mal informed the Prime Minister about the various schemes of Baitul Mal and how it was helping the various segments of the society by providing assistance to the needy through free medical treatment, education scholarships and small loans.
Governor Punjab Lt Gen (Retd) Khalid Maqbool said poverty was a big impediment and damaged the will and determination to progress. He said it was the responsibility of a true Islamic welfare state to provide the necessary funds to help people stand on their feet and live their livelihood in a respectable manner.
He cited in detail the various steps the Punjab government has taken to help the needy and those with little resources to provide them health, education, vocational training and funds to set up their own business.