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Parliament will not be a rubber stamp: PM
Govt focusing on poor to improve their lot
Announces development package for Multan
Press to be made free
Staff Reporter
Multan—Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani says the coalition
government will take along all its partners to meet the challenges
confronting the country.
He was addressing a large gathering here at the Multan Public School
to distribute cheques among the deserving peoe for the purposes of
amounting to health, education and small business Rs 90 million.
Prime Minister recalled that PPP’s founder-chairman Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto set up a strong federal system providing supremacy of
constitution and law.
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 no longer 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 during most
difficult days of WW-II had said if British courts were working
independently then the country faced no danger.
He said the challenges being faced by the masses were not easy to
address and will take time, but he 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.
Gilani said the government is 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, where 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 added 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.
Speaking at Multan press club’s programme, Prime Minister Syed
Yousuf Raza Gilani announced a development package for Multan. It
includes start of work on Motorway (M-4), construction of
educational institutions, road schemes, housing as well as
industrial and agriculture sector. Work on all these projects would
start next month and will be completed in five years.
He also announced expansion of Multan airport to make it of
international standard for which the ministry of defence and the
Civil Aviation Authority will acquire the land. The work would start
in June this year.
He said six low cost housing schemes in Shuja Abad and Jalalpur
would be started for which the provincial government will provide
the land and requisite funds.
He said National Highway Authority would commence work on Multan
Faisalabad Motorway (M-4) project in July 2008.
Prime Minister Gilani said road infrastructure in the historic city
of Multan will be improved to ease traffic congestion.
For this purpose work on ring road in the inner city, which will
have Northern and Southern by-pass, will be started.
He said construction of Northern By-pass will be completed at a cost
of Rs 50 million in June next year, for which the land is already
available. The Southern by-pass, he added, will be completed in a
phased manner which will also include acquisition of land. He said
portion of ring road, passing from inner city will have underpasses
and where needed, the crossings will be widened and improved.
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said the work on establishment of a women’s
university and University of Science and Technology will start in
July.
He also announced setting up of five colleges for girls and two
colleges for boys and a cadet college in the city. Water supply and
sewerage schemes at a cost of Rs 5.92 billion will also be
initiated.
He said to impart technical and vocational training to the youth of
Multan, NAVTEC will present him a comprehensive plan for
establishment of training institutes before June 30.
He announced to upgrade Bagh Langay Khan and Municipal library and
refurbishment of Qasim Bagh stadium. Prime Minister Gilani said a
football ground and an athletics track of international standard
will be constructed in the stadium.
Multan city, where he said, he grew up will be made into a national
heritage city on the pattern of Faiz city of Morocco. He said for
proper load management after consultation with the representatives
of industry, agriculture and power looms sector, the distribution of
electricity to them will be rationalized according to their needs.
He said those who were arrested during the power looms strike will
be set free tonight by the provincial government.
He announced to make Multan a model health district and said every
Basic Health Unit (BHU) will have doctor and required staff and
supply of medicines will be ensured. He said Metro Cash-n-Carry
store will open its branch in the city at a cost of Rs 2 billion
having special storage for kinoo and mangoes. Prime Minister Gilani
will lay the foundation stone of the store next week.
The other announcements by the prime minister include 15 buses for
women colleges, upgradation of cancer hospital at Nishter College to
100 beds and two buses for the college.The Prime Minister said that
a special committee to oversee the package will be formed which he
himself will chair.
The Prime Minister said that the development package has been
announced after consultation with the federal government, provincial
government and representatives of the city.
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