ISLAMABAD – Perhaps for the first time ever, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani hinted at the seriousness of the country’s economic meltdown, saying the government was seeking guidance from all political parties to evolve a strategy to tackle the economic challenges the country was facing.
Talking to reporters after inaugurating the groundbreaking ceremony of the Parliament Lodges’ phase-II, the prime minister urged the media and the masses not to doubt the commitment of the government in its efforts to counter economic challenges.
“Let me tell you that I am not facing threat politically. I am facing threat economically and I am two hundred percent sure that we will overcome it. I will not remain prime minister for a lifetime. So I want to strengthen the country economically,” he added.
“We are exploring a strategy on how to control electricity and gas load shedding, how to counter unemployment, inflation and other issues,” he said, adding that “you cannot take important decisions in isolation and that is the reason that the government has decided to consult all the political parties seeking their vision to tackle the situation”.
Asked if the democratic government had failed in resolving the issues faced by the people, Gilani said it was wrong to label the economic situation a failure of the democratic government, and rather, this problem was due to global recession.
Commenting on dealing with terrorism, he said the government would not compromise on national sovereignty. He said that the government had also dealt with the issue of war on terror effectively, with the support of country’s political leadership.
About any possibility of a governor’s rule or army operation in Karachi to control the deteriorating law and order, Gilani said such a decision would be taken in consultation with all political stakeholders.
Gilani said the National Assembly session had been summoned to discuss the issue of law and order to reach a decision with mutual consultation.
Commenting on rental power projects (RPPs), Gilani said the matter was sub-judice and action would be taken against controversial RPPs.
He rejected reports of allotting residential plots to eleven journalists, saying the plots were awarded out of the three percent quota for the journalists and the application had to go through the information minister to the housing minister. “I have nothing to do with it,” Gilani said.
