PM lauds performance of outgoing cabinet; says 77% cabinet decisions implemented
ISLAMABAD, Feb 9 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani lauding the performance of outgoing federal cabinet as “very satisfactory” said Wednesday 77 percent decisions of the cabinet were implemented since March 2008. “Today’s meeting is going to be the last meeting of the present cabinet. I can very proudly claim that your performance since March 31, 2008 remained very satisfactory given the very difficult circumstances under which we worked throughout this period”, Gilani stated while chairing the 76th meeting of the cabinet in which the federal ministers tendered their resignations to the Prime Minister to enable him to announce a new cabinet.
The Prime Minister said the cabinet since March 31, 2008 took 782 decisions out of which 605 decisions were implemented, with 175 decisions in the process of implementation. “This indicates that 77% decisions of the Cabinet were implemented”, he added.
Gilani said when the present government took over, it found the country in very difficult circumstances, adding, the country was facing an economic melt down, and terrorism, in which doubts were expressed on the sustainability of Pakistan as a nation.
“We together successfully steered this nation towards a sustainable path of economic recovery by initiating both short term and long term policies such as rationalization of subsidies and tremendous boost in agriculture sector”, he added.
The Prime Minister in this respect mentioned great surge in the country’s exports, which, he said will surpass the target this year, coupled with a record inflow of remittances to the extent, that never seen before.
“This shows that confidence of Pakistanis living abroad on the policies and initiatives of our government, of course led by you all”, he told the federal cabinet.
Gilani said the country’s foreign exchange reserves were at an all time high, over 17 billion Dollars. Reflection of investors confidence can also be seen from a steady rise in the stock exchange index which has crossed 12000 points, a great improvement over the index of 5000 points when the present government took over three years ago, he added.
He also mentioned the unprecedented flood in the history of this region and thanked Pakistan’s friends in the world, who helped the country in these trying times, as well as “our brave and steadfast nation” which faced this calamity with courage.
The Prime Minister highlighted the achievements of the present government during the last three years including the passage of National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, initiating Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan, giving political rights to the people of Gilgit Baltistan as well as successfully fighting the war against terrorism with the help of the country’s valiant security forces and the brothers and sisters of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The last but not the least was our successful effort to make the Council of Common Interests an effective body, he added.
The Prime Minister said, “during these last three years our government took some of the most crucial and historical decisions which were endorsed by the parliament. This cabinet endorsed, historic bills including the 18th and 19th Amendments in the Constitution.”
“By doing so we restored the constitution to its original form as given to us by our great leader Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and as promised by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto”, he said and added these landmark decisions will shape the future of this country.
The Prime Minister thanked all the members of the cabinet for standing resolutely behind the leadership on these critical issues.
Gilani said, “Continuing with our policy of reconciliation we are now moving towards implementation of the constitutional amendments”, adding, “This all has been possible with your devotion and dedication to this country for which I pay you a glowing tribute and thank you once again for your support and dedication.”
“May Allah bless us all with the strength to take this country out of troubled water towards a sustainable path”, he concluded.