PM calls for provincial unity to overcome national challenges
Says the country is at a crossroads, urges provincial governments and people to shun regionalism.
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.
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.