The negotiating teams have decided to wrap up the discussions on the tabled 10-point agenda and agreed to “consolidate on the already agreed points,” said Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh after a meeting between the PPP and PML-N.
He said that before the next meeting, scheduled on Tuesday, the government will ensure implementation on the agreed agenda. So far the agreed agenda includes price control measures, formation of a Judicial Commission to probe the artificial increase in sugar price, return of defaulting loans since 1971, election commission reforms and reduction in the size of the cabinet. However, implementation on almost of all these points remains a far cry except for the cabinet reduction. The government is yet to notify the Parliamentary Committee regarding electoral reforms. For the recovery of loans, a law is said to have to been framed that may take more than the expected time.
The points that remained contentious include the implementation of Supreme Court decisions, draft of accountability law, energy plan formulation, restructuring of public sector enterprises, 30 per cent cut in expenditures and change in the petroleum prices through a transparent mechanism.
On top of the 10-point agenda, the government has also clubbed its own single point - revenue generation through new taxes to arrest the soaring budget deficit.
PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif has given a 45-day deadline to implement the agenda, starting from January 10. Failure to deliver on the economic cum political agenda may lead to parting of ways for both parties in Punjab.
“Only two weeks are left (for the expiry of the 45-day deadline) and we have decided to focus on the implementation of the agreed points,”said Senator Ishaq Dar, the chief negotiator of the PML-N. He said all the issues have been discussed in detail but “the progress was in front of everyone”.
Dar said the agreed points were in progress and the government will have to take time out to consolidate their implementation. He said still there were differences between the government and the PML-N on some points.
“The government has sought four days time to deliver on the agreed points,”said Dar.
He added that the government partially implemented the condition of the cabinet size cut but still inducted ministers who “do not have clean faces”.
Responding to a question, Hafeez Shaikh said the issue of expenditure cuts and levy of new taxes was under discussion but being “the most sensitive issue” the details will be made public only after getting approval of other relevant government departments.
He said that the issue of increasing power tariffs from March will be discussed with the PML-N this month.
“There is an agreement on almost all issues as the government has assured us that the spirit of the 10-point agenda will be implemented,” said Senator Pervaiz Rashid of the PML-N. On the issue of the implementation of Supreme Court decisions with reference to the National Reconciliation Ordinance, he said the government has told the negotiating team that except for one matter all other points have been implemented. He was referring to the reopening of corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. “The government will have to deliver on all points in next ten days,” said Pervaiz.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 12th, 2011.
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