Gilani interview: ‘Opposition will be consulted before polls’
Prime minister says he had asked the finance ministry to prepare a people-friendly budget.
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that the government will consult the opposition before holding the next general elections.
Talking to a select group of journalists on Saturday, the prime minister said the government would take into account the opposition’s advice and take practical steps, if they were in the national interest and for the welfare of the people.
Replying to a question about his strategy in the final year of his five-year term and before going to the polls, the prime minister said he had asked the finance ministry to prepare a people-friendly budget. He added that the ministry has also been asked to create 100,000 jobs this year.
The premier said that the government has taken short-term, mid-term and long-term decisions to resolve the power shortage.
He added that Rs50 billion has been cleared from the circular debt while the remaining amount would be cleared this year, so that full potential of power generation could be utilised.
To resolve the gas shortage, he added, Pakistan is committed to availing all possible means, including the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and importing gas from Qatar.
Answering a question about consultations with US leadership, the prime minister said although Parliament would take the final decision on future foreign policy, as a responsible country, “Pakistan wants to have good and friendly relations with all countries on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect”.
About the expected decision of his contempt of court case in the Supreme Court, the prime minister said: “I will be martyr or Ghazi”.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2012.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that the government will consult the opposition before holding the next general elections.
Talking to a select group of journalists on Saturday, the prime minister said the government would take into account the opposition’s advice and take practical steps, if they were in the national interest and for the welfare of the people.
Replying to a question about his strategy in the final year of his five-year term and before going to the polls, the prime minister said he had asked the finance ministry to prepare a people-friendly budget. He added that the ministry has also been asked to create 100,000 jobs this year.
The premier said that the government has taken short-term, mid-term and long-term decisions to resolve the power shortage.
He added that Rs50 billion has been cleared from the circular debt while the remaining amount would be cleared this year, so that full potential of power generation could be utilised.
To resolve the gas shortage, he added, Pakistan is committed to availing all possible means, including the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and importing gas from Qatar.
Answering a question about consultations with US leadership, the prime minister said although Parliament would take the final decision on future foreign policy, as a responsible country, “Pakistan wants to have good and friendly relations with all countries on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect”.
About the expected decision of his contempt of court case in the Supreme Court, the prime minister said: “I will be martyr or Ghazi”.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2012.