PM calls for provincial unity to overcome national challenges

Says the country is at a crossroads, urges provincial governments and people to shun regionalism.


September 15, 2011

CHARSADDA: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday said that strong provinces were a guarantee for a strong federation and stressed for adopting an approach to ensure provincial unity over issues of national importance.

He said the country was at a crossroads and urged provincial governments and people to unite as a nation by shunning regionalism.

“It is the time to stop identifying yourselves as Punjabis, Sindhis, Pakhtuns, Seraikis and Balochis. Your identity should be as a Pakistani,” he said at the inaugural ceremony of the second phase of distribution of Watan Cards in KP.

Gilani said the country was facing terrorism besides the challenges of massive floods and a dengue epidemic.

He called upon provinces, people and political parties to join hands to resolve these problems in an effective way, particularly asking political parties to avoid politicking over the issues of national importance, and said there was a need to act together for mitigating sufferings of the nation.

He lauded the nation for braving every challenge with great courage.

Gilani dismissed criticism over the government’s appeal to the international community for funds to help flood-hit people in Sindh.

He said the request was made in view of the disaster and assured that every penny of the donations would be spent on deserving people.

Gilani also lauded the contribution of the Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel who had sacrificed their ‘present for the future of people’. He termed provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain as a symbol of courage, who had bravely faced many challenges while countering terrorism.

Inaugurates second phase of Watan Cards

On the Watan Cards project, Gilani said Rs 40,000 were being given in the second phase adding the federal and provincial governments would fulfill their commitment of providing Rs 100,000 each to deserving people.

He said in KP, about 284,791 deserving people were provided Watan Cards since August 25, 2011 and an amount of Rs 5.4 billion had been transferred to their accounts.

The programme started on September 12, 2011 and costs $580million. It will benefit 1.1 million households, out of which 291,500 families belong to KP, he added.

Gilani also directed to expedite the processing of Watan Cards in Sindh and other provinces too.

He was accompanied by Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Minister for States and Frontier Regions Engineer Shaukatullah and Communications Minister Dr Arbab Alamgir.

Governor Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Barrister Masood Kausar, Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain and MNA Asma Arbab Alamgir were also present on the occasion.

COMMENTS (2)

Mr. Justice | 12 years ago | Reply

Inaugural ceremony of the second phase of Corruption......still the 1st phase has not been finish...the second door has been open for next year corruption. I ask one thing what did the govt. in last 3-4 years, did they open any new industrial zone, any new university, any new road infrastructure, any health project, any new planning for flood and natural disaster, any community center, any new public development project, any project for sports and recreation/tourism except by the name so called war on terror.... they supposed/think that the whole world is sleeping and fool… means one fool trying to fools billions of intellectual/world. What they did for development in FATA the most affected area i.e no roads, no school, no colleges/universities, no technical education centers, health centers. NO small scale industrial projects, any maintainess project on electricity poles and wires, any new project on water and power crisis, any MOU with any country for the exchange of research, technology and information, any labour and manpower resource development and human resource management project. I can't see any progress or Development at any level or any province…progress is Zero. While politics they did new revolution i.e today friend, tomorrow enemy, today enemy tomorrow friend..Having no respect and integrity…they are dead but look alive…life without true soul and conscious. While last and present Flood open new doors of money and corruption beside the old passion war on terror. But what one can say...because the most of them so called political workers and most of the time they spend in the same environment of…….., no education, corrupt or political parties birth. Their Brain cell doesn’t work and they are blind, having no evaluating and observing abilities. They just Do what the Romans Do at any circumstances. They have killed the internal abilities, strength and conscious of the people. Now on each small or large scale disaster the people looking forward for Aid…....Even most of people left working and waiting/ keen to stand in line to receive Aid (flood or any). In last 64 years I ask one question what you did/done except following the wealthy nations (USA). Are you really a free, integral and progressive country...I said NO. Because I can’t see the character of progressive, truly free country. Beside the others Deptts. the role of politicians is major in destruction of this country...........the politicians who don't know the history, no thinking, no exposure and no observing , evaluation and foresight abilities...ware/are given the most important responsibilities to govern the country.…..How..?... They just knew how to earn and how to get power and how to misuse. By just cutting the fitta/ribbon it doesn't mean you did something new…..It’s nothing. I ask did you see any development or changes in so called KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)...none....nothing new..no new project and even some time looks…does KP have Govt. or not. Because the Govt. is just by name having no sense of how to govern, operate and what to do, what the people wants and what’s their problems/issues. The severing of own people concept is totally absent. The last flood crisis and specially the shameful situation in KP during the distribution of so called watan cards and the role of locals MPAs and MNAs....how was it. The number of non-affecter was/is greater than affecters. The begging of more than enough money doesn’t; mean to misuse it..But if someone is really educated and having a bit wise and sincere...even with a little money/efforts he can do a lot of services. In FATA most of the so called Govt. officer getting 100 benefits and more then higher salaries at homes...they did not and don't go to their offices…. by false claims of insecurity. Still the Role of Govt. in FATA is Zero...no development and no services while getting millions of dollars by the name so FATA/FATA projects. It can't see any one/no one who does justice...Justice in real....for nation, for peace and for Humanity. So as you sow so shall you reap.

Lawangin | 12 years ago | Reply

Mr. Gilani should know that Pashtoon, Baloch, Sindhi, Seraiki and Panjabis have volontairly agreed to form paksitan, not the other way round. If pakistan means to forgest about pashto and pashtoon Identity, so why we strived against Brtish. They were not that brute as Pakistan is today.

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