SIALKOT:Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that nuclear assets of the country are in safe hands and there is no threat to them. Addressing a public meeting, at Chak Kubay in district Sialkot, he said,

“Pakistan is a strong country with politically mature leadership and invincible defence and nobody can cast an evil eye on it.”

Paying tributes to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,founder chairman of PPP, he said, he was a visionary leader who not only introduced policies for making country’s economy strong but also rendered its defence invincible by laying foundation for making it a nuclear power.

He said PPP continues to pursue policies aimed at achieving the mission of the great leader of bringing about socio?economic revolution and strengthening federation by ensuring equitable rights to people of all the four provinces.

He said It was Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who gave consensus constitution of 1973 to the nation providing for bicameral parliament with equal representation of all the four provinces in the upper house which helped in ending the sense of deprivation among the smaller provinces.

He said PPP is a federal party having roots in all the four provinces and was committed to protection of rights of people of the whole country. “We want to ensure equal rights to people of all parts of the country as per vision of our great leaders Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.”

He said in social sector also PPP remains committed to its slogan of roti, kapra and makan (food, clothing and shelter) for every Pakistani. He said Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) was in line with this policy of the government adding that health insurance and other benefits for poor would also be included in BISP.

He said, like our great leader, who had brought back 90,000 prisoners of war from India and made country’s defence invincible and economy strong,” We following his ideology of reconciliation are moving fast to steer our beloved motherland out of crisis and put it on the road to progress and prosperity.”

Referring to challenges facing the country, he said, no single party can steer the country out of difficulties.”All political forces have to make united efforts to overcome economic problems and counter challenges of terrorism,loadshedding and problem of water.”

The premier said small dams would be constructed to overcome problem of paucity of water. He said special efforts would be made to provide all basic amenities of life in rural areas to check migration of people from villages to urban centres. The premier said Sialkot is an industrial city playing important role in strengthening economy of the country by earning precious foreign exchange adding “A special package would soon be announced for Sialkot in the near future.” Earlier, the premier performed the foundation stone laying ceremonies of Benazir Bhutto Degree College for Girls and sui gas project in the area.

Briefly talking to media persons on the occasion, the Prime Minister said “In case of violation of Swat peace agreement,we would review it and also have other options.” Regarding statements by TNSM’s leader Sufi Muhammad about country’s institutions and constitution, he said 1973 constitution is Islamic and there can be no legislation in the country in contravention of the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

To a question about statement of Interior adviser Rehman Malik regarding involvement of India in violence/militancy in Balochistan, he said, he ( Rehman Malik) can better tell about it. However, he said, if foreign hand was found involved , the matter would be taken up at the international fora.

To another question about statements by US officials that aid to Pakistan was linked with conditions, he said, government policy is clear that country’s interests are supreme. However, he said, a high level delegation would visit US to hold talks for sorting out matters in this regard.

When asked whether PPP would remain part of Punjab government,he said, a meeting of Central Executive Committee was held in this regard while PPP’s Parliamentary Party in Punjab Assembly would meet soon following which party’s decision in this respect would be made public.-APP

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday launched the Rs 34 billion Benazir Income Support Programme for the poor and vulnerable segments of society. Under the scheme, families, having income less than Rs 6000 per month would be paid Rs. 2000, every two months under this programme. “This is the first program in the country that will directly benefit the oppressed sections of the society directly,” President Asif Ali Zardari told a gathering here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
President Zardari said the welfare of women was a priority of the government and it was with this objective that the scheme has been initiated.

“I am pleased to launch the scheme on the name of great leader Benazir Bhutto Shaheed,” President Zardari said. He said the scheme was a step towards empowerment of the women and ameliorating the sufferings of the poorest of the poor.“I wish Mohtarma was alive today to have launched the program with her own hands,” he said.

The program to benefit as many as 3 million people will be implemented with complete transparency and by rising above political affiliations, the President said. He said the recommendations of the parliamentarians will be kept in consideration in identifying the vulnerable sections of the society.

The President said the government has also directed NADRA to place all information about the financial transactions on its website so that the people may verify that the money is being given to the real deserving, with complete openness.

The President termed the scheme that will cover around 14 per cent of the population in the low income group across the country; including FATA, Northern Areas and Azad Jammu Kashmir. He said special focus of the scheme will be on the remote areas of Balochistan, Chitral, North and South Waziristan, Kohistan and Tharparkar.

The President handed over cheques to the deserving families. Prime Minsiter Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Chairman Senate and parliamentarians attended the event. Minister for IT and Kashmir Affairs Qamar Zaman Kaira, who is also looking after the BISP said the Benazir Income Support Program will be the largest direct cash grant scheme in country’s history and all members of Parliament, irrespective of party affiliation will be provided equal opportunities to recommend deserving families.

A unique feature of the scheme is that the payment will be made directly to the female head of the family and the amount will help in providing funds for around 25 days of wheat flour for the family. He said the Benazir Income Support Programme is the third largest allocation in the current budget and constitutes 0.3 percent of GDP. For families earning Rs. 5000 per month, the Rs. 1000 payout will amount to a 20 percent increase in their current purchasing power.

The funds would be disbursed through Pakistan Post and will be delivered by postal Money Order at the recipient address, so that they do not have to incur any cost or trouble in obtaining the amount. He said under the scheme each Parliamentarian will be allocated 8,000 forms which would be distributed by MNA’s and Senators in their respective constituencies. The forms would be verified by the Union Councillor as well as the area MNA.

The parliamentarians will collect the completed forms and mail these to NADRA in pre-addressed envelopes provided by BISP.-APP

ISLAMABAD: Ms. Isabel M. Guerrero Vice President, World Bank, South Asian Region met Syed Naveed Qamar, Finance Minister here on Friday. She was accompanied by her predecessor, former World Bank Vice President, Mr. Praful C. Patel and other members of World Bank Team. Read the full story