Pakistan comes first: Musharraf
ISLAMABAD:President General Pervez Musharraf has emphasized the need for maintaining political stability in the country in the run up to the elections and said that the martial law and emergencies are no solution but Pakistan’s interests come first. Speaking at third programme of “Aiwan-e-Sadr Say” here on Thursday the President said that uncertainty, rumours and distortions are being spread by vested interests. He hoped that this uncertainty would be over in the next three to four months after the completion of election process.
General Pervez Musharraf reiterated that the Presidential elections would be held between September 15 to October 15 this year. He said elections to National and provincial assemblies would be held on time in a fair, free and transparent manner and on merit. He urged the people to vote for right people. To a question the President said that the National Security Council is a constitutional body which would keep necessary checks and balances on the government. He said for democracy checks and balances are imperative and the National Security Council (NSC) would play a vital role in ensuring such checks and balances. He said NSC through its regular meetings would be able to check any wrong doings by the governments.
Responding to a question the President said there is no dictatorship in the country and media enjoys complete freedom. He said if people want me to continue to serve them they will have to vote for those who would be voting for me. He said people will have to decide whom they want to vote for. About the state of economy, President Musharraf said there has been tremendous growth in all sectors. The economy has been growing at seven percent, the foreign exchange reserves are touching over sixteen billion dollars, and foreign direct investment has risen from one billion dollars in 1999 to 6.7 billion dollars in 2007. Similarly exports have increased from 7.5 billion dollars in 1999 to 17.5 billion dollars in 2007. Remittances have been enhanced from one billion dollars in 1999 to 5.5 billion dollars this year.
The President said the foreign investors have reposed complete confidence in the economy of the country by over subscribing various bonds floated in the international market. He said the debt to GDP ratio which was about 100 percent in 1999 has been brought down to 55 percent in 2007. He said the debt which stood at 31 billion dollars in 1999 is now about 40 billion dollars but the size of economy today stands at 145 billion dollars against 60 billion dollars in 1999. The debt to GDP ratio has declined in actual terms.
President said the fiscal deficit has increased but it was not the cause of worry as the economy can absorb it. He said that the fiscal discipline has been introduced through legislation by the parliament and no government would be allowed the debt to GDP radio to go beyond sixty percent. It would be binding on the governments to reduce the debt to GDP radio by two point five percent annually. Answering a question the President said foreign investment enjoys complete legal protection and if the future governments continue to function under some checks and balances, the economy would continue to get more and more robust.
President Musharraf said that for the continued economic development, political stability and law and order is vital. He said extremism and terrorism will have negative impact on the economic growth if not effectively countered. Replying to a question about the construction of new water reservoirs, President Musharraf re-emphasized government’s resolve to build all dams including Kalabagh, Bhasha, Akori, Munda and Kurram Tangi to meet the fast expanding energy demands in the industrial sector and growth of agriculture. About price hike the President said that further steps are being taken to check rising prices and inflationary trends for the benefit of the common man. He said initiatives of job creation and poverty alleviation in the rural areas including Rozgar Pakistan Scheme, development of livestock would benefit the rural people.-SANA
Popularity: 1% [?]
Loading ...
