Difficult decisions start paying dividends as economy showing recovery: Kaira.

ISLAMABAD, June 02, 2009 (Balochistan Times) -- Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Qamar Zaman Kaira has said the difficult decisions taken by the government have started paying the dividends as the national economy was showing signs of recovery. At a time of recession all over the world, it was heartening to witness that our economy is improving. Millions of workers have lost jobs even in the most powerful economies of the world, but in Pakistan not a single public sector employee has been sacked, he said while addressing the oath taking ceremony of Anjuman-e-wholesale Fruit Merchants here late Monday night. The Minister said on the contrary, as a policy, we are regularizing contract employees as the government has also reinstated over 7000 government employees sacked in 1996 on political grounds. He said a plan was prepared to revolutionize the agricultural and industrial sectors through introduction of latest methods and techniques in next three years. All efforts were being made to increase per acre yield upto four times and ensure food self-sufficiency, he added. The Minister said quality seeds, pesticides and modern irrigation systems are being introduced to achieve the agri targets while industrial sector is being modernized through latest technology. He said with efforts of President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and other leaders, the advanced countries have agreed to open up their markets for Pakistani exports. Qamar Zaman Kaira said this step would go a long way in creating job opportunities for the unemployed youth and in a way it would also be helpful in fighting against extremism. He said the PPP-led government was abolishing subsidies on various utilities as the rich were benefiting more from these subsides. Now the poor are being given direct subsidy through Benazir Income Support Programme as Rs. 34 billion have been allocated in the present budget for this purpose while in the coming budget the allocation would be more than doubled, he added. Paying tributes to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he said she was fully aware of the dangers being faced by the country from terrorists and extremists that is why she launched politics of reconciliation. Kaira said Benazir Bhutto in last public address in Rawalpindi, minutes before her martyrdom, had said that the Taliban want that Pakistan flag would not be hoisted in Swat but we would ensure that Pakistans flag would be hoisted in every nook and corner of the country. He also said Benazir Bhutto scarified her life to save this country from falling in the hands of terrorists. The country is facing big challenge of its history and we would have to rise above personal and party interests to save the country, he maintained. The Minister said the government wants to complete the military operation swiftly and plan was afoot to rehabilitate the displaced persons of Swat and Malakand and added the families returning to their homes would be given cash grants and six-month ration, so that they do not face food shortage there. The Minister called for purging the society from the menace of terrorism and extremism, which was posing a challenge to the body fabric of the society. About slow speed of military operation in Swat, he said Pakistan Army was not fighting in an enemys territory, but unfortunately it was forced to fight against its own misguided people. He said the government had tried its best to avoid military action by signing peace agreement in Swat but the Taliban attitude after Swat peace deal left no other option. The Minister directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to take immediate steps for resolution of the problems of the traders, especially fruit merchants and assured the fruit merchants that they would be taken on-board on the proposal to build a new fruit and vegetable market near Sangjani.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)