By NNN-APP,
Karachi : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani defended the financial arrangement made with International Monetary Fund (IMF) said this will help bring good governance and better economic planning in the country.
“This is not first time that Pakistan has engaged with IMF.During last couple of governments the IMF was very much there,” he said on Saturday while speaking at the launching ceremony of Part-II of a book titled “Sheh- Rug” a compilation of Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig’s newspaper columns on economic challenges and their possible solutions here at Chief Minister House.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Acting Governor Sindh Ms. Syeda Shehla Raza, Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Sindh Senior Minister Pir Mazhar‑ul‑ Haq, Minister for Agriculture Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tariq Sayeed, various Federal and Provincial Ministers, MNAs and MPAs, political and business leaders besides author of the book and Federal Advisor on Textile Industry Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig and his family were present.
The Prime Minister also defended his Government’s policies being pursued in economic and social sectors.
He said the entire world including the developed countries have been hit by global economic recession. He said, “nothing is wrong with our policies and the economic crisis is an international phenomena.
He said that with decline in international oil prices, the Government would provides maximum relief to the common man as well as to the industry and trade.
“This process has just started,” Yousuf Raza Gilani said.
The main focus of his Government is to build the economy with good governance and cooperation, he asserted.
He told the business community not to feel discouraged and said they would get full support from the Government which considers the private sector the main player in the national economy.
Yousuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan is not an oil producing country but an agricultural state and the Government has taken various effective measures including its diversification to take full benefit of its vast potential.
He said after taking over as the Prime Minister he had identified law and order, and economic recession as the two major challenges for the country.
It is imperative to improve law and order situation to boost the trade and industry and that the Government is taking all possible measures to this end, he added.
He said a few people were demaging country’s image and there is to dispel this impression in the world.
The Prime Minister said Islam was spread through preaching, not by force.
“We preach Islam for peace and prosperity.” The Last Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) preached Islam for peace, he said.
He also highlighted the role of saints and ‘sufis’ who always preached for tolerance, brotherhood and peace with the ultimate objective of prosperity on earth. “We should follow their footprints”, he said.
Yousuf Raza Gilani said religious leaders and media could reshape a society and they could deliver a lot in promoting peace and prosperity in the country.
The Prime Minister said the government believes in dialogue and that it could hold talks with the militants in tribal areas, if they laid down their weapons in line with the tribal traditions and hand them over to the political agents.
In past, he said, the people in tribal areas reacted to the operations, but now-a-days the environment is different. The local population has disengaged themselves from hardliners/militants, and presently they are resisting their activities, he added.
He said it is the prime duty of the state to protect the life and property of the people.
He said there is a need to further strengthen law enforcing agencies for ensuring peace in the country.
“Our Army is the best in the world,” he said.
He said Pakistan People’s Party leadership believed in reconciliation and was taking all political parties on board. He said the coalition at the Centre and in the Punjab was intact and would continue to its logical end.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, the author of the Book “Sheh Rug” and Federal Advisor on Textile Industry and said he has done a difficult job by writing this book on a very important subject in difficult days.
He recalled that he had written his book “Chha Yousuf Sey Sada” during his imprisonment and he had a lot of time to consult books and friends to give the book a final shape.
He said that he has written another three books which would be published soon.
Earlier, Ms Naureen Baig, wife of Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, presented a copy of Dr. Baig’s book to the Prime Minister who formally launched it.
The author of the book “Sheh Rug” and Federal Advisor Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig highlighted the salient features of this book.
He said he had forecast the oil crisis and economic challenges much earlier and tried to suggest some solutions.
He said he found Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as the most favourite personality for launching his book. Gilani himself is the author of four books and an intellectual, he added.
Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan urged for strong check over theft, wastage of funds, unnecessary expenditure and leakages, which he said have become a permanent feature of public sector.
He said the role of Pakistan in the region was very important.
He said that Quaid-i‑Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had
described Kashmir as the “Sheh‑ Rug” (jugular vein) of Pakistan and vowed to continue struggle for its liberation from Indian occupation.
Acting Sindh Governor, Ms Syeda Shehla Raza paid tributes to Dr. Baig for writing this book, which she said reflects the present economic situation and provides solutions to many socio‑economic problems.
Shehla Raza said, being Advisor to the Federal Government Dr. Baig will deliver to the country.
She said Dr. Baig’s great contribution towards the business community by representing them at various fora.
She also supported Dr. Baig’s candidature in the coming elections of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
President, National Bank of Pakistan, S. Ali Raza, senior journalist Zahid Malik and Imran Baig also spoke on the occasion.