LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Saturday said he was confident that the National Assembly would adopt the Reformed General Sales Tax (GST) Bill just like the Senate did.
Commenting on the statements of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Nisar Ali Khan on the reformed GST, Gilani said, the government had great respect for him, but if “we as nation expect the world to help us with the money of their taxpayers, the world also expects us to pay taxes and generate revenue for the rehabilitation of our people”.
He said the government’s aim was people’s welfare and the betterment of the country whereas criticism was the opposition’s right. Gilani said the government should appreciate healthy criticism as it will help the government move forward, adding that “opposition is the beauty of democracy and we all should respect democratic norms”.
About the allocation of the health budget, Gilani said health and education sectors were the top priority of the PPP government and the Health Ministry was among the first ten ministries which would be devolved under the 18th Amendment.
The prime minister said the government was in the process of re-prioritising the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in the aftermath of recent floods in the country, adding that maximum resources would be awarded to the provinces under the NFC Award.
To a question about Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s meeting with the army chief, Gilani said there was nothing to worry about, as “the security situation and the war on terror prompted the meetings between the two heads.”
He said the armed forces had the people’s support on the issue of the war against terrorism and no battle could be won without the people’s support. He said Pakistani military was pro-democracy as well as loyal to the country and “we have complete confidence in our armed forces”.
To a question about the conviction of Asia Bibi and rumors of repeal of the Blasphemy Act as well strong opposition by the religious parties, he said, “It is a non-issue and will be resolved soon.” To another question about improving relations with the opposition, Gilani said diversity of opinion was the soul of democracy.
He highlighted that it was unprecedented in the democratic history of the country that politics of reconciliation and a political culture of no political victimisation was introduced by a political party, the Pakistan People’s Party. Later, talking to a selective group of the Sikh community at the State Guest House, the prime minister assured them of full cooperation.
He reiterated that minorities and women were his constituency and his government was committed to protecting their rights. He said the welfare of minorities was not only his religious obligation but also a political commitment. He said the government believed in promoting interfaith harmony.
