Shaukat vows more economic reforms: opposition boycotts swearing-in ceremony, vote of confidence

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz vowed to continue economic reforms after he took oath as 23rd prime minister of Pakistan at the President House here, on Saturday. President Musharraf administered the oath of office.
PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, services chiefs, political leaders, chief ministers, governors, former ministers, diplomats and members of parliament attended the oath-taking ceremony.
Later he took vote of confidence from the National Assembly. As many as 191 members reposed confidence in Shaukat Aziz. A treasury MNA Makhdoom Ahmed Alam Anwar could not cast his vote for being late.
Combined opposition boycotted the oath-taking ceremony as well as the NA proceedings for the vote of confidence.
Delivering his speech after taking the vote in the lower house of the parliament, the new prime minister said in the last five years a direction has been set for the country and now it is time to continue economic reforms, fighting poverty and unemployment.
He contended, "no one should have any doubt that we are marching in a right direction. There can be no question of its benefits reaching the common man if there is no sustainable growth."
Shaukat Aziz claimed that growth process was underway and it was speeding up and surely its impact would soon be felt in terms of the masses' weal.
Due to reforms, he said, Pakistan had achieved economic sovereignty. An economically weak country cannot take independent decisions to safeguard its sovereignty. Therefore, economic sovereignty is the real sovereignty, he argued.
"We will say goodbye to IMF by the end of this year and in future will not be in need of IMF programmes. Now we are in a position to obtain resources from international capital market on our own, as much as we like," the Premier asserted.
For ensuring access to the international market, boosting foreign investment and free trade, the new government will promote economic diplomacy, the Premier declared.
In this connection, he said that the embassies would be made effective and given clear targets.
One of the biggest challenges, he said, was to accelerate the pace of economic progress so that its benefits reach the masses.
The Prime Minister said, "our policies and transactions will be transparent and the House and the masses will be promptly informed thereon."
He said his government would soon unveil its economic development programme, prime focus of that will be agriculture sector development, industrial growth, monitoring of prices of essential commodities, provision of jobs and promotion of vocational and technical training institutions across the country.
The Prime Minister stated that growth in housing and construction, agriculture, SME sector and information technology will add to confidence of the investors, increasing job opportunities.
However, he conceded that the biggest hurdle on this account was unnecessary laws and bureaucratic delays, adding that the government will take necessary measures to address the same.
"We will introduce reforms in the administrative machinery and keep a vigil on the performance of the departments. The administration and ministers will be given targets and their output monitored," he asserted, evoking desk-thumping.
FOREIGN POLICY: The only objective of our foreign policy, he said, will be to safeguard our national interests and all decisions will be taken, holding these interests supreme.
Shaukat said our foreign policy will be to promote peace and stability in the region and we would contribute to efforts for the freedom of Kashmir and Palestine and peace in Iraq.
WAR ON TERROR: Shaukat Aziz pledged to improve law and order particularly handling the situation arising out of the war on terror, and fighting poverty.
He said the country was facing challenges for which the need of the hour was to move forward with consensus. "We will have to act jointly to face the challenges," he added.
Shaukat said the situation, which emerged after the war on terrorism, could not be rectified with conventional mechanisms. "For this we will have to restructure the law-enforcement agencies, improving their performance," he added.
DEFENCE: Referring to the country's defence and security on borders, he said that Pakistan had no expansionist designs, but we could not be oblivious of our defence needs and the security challenges.
Shaukat said increased resources would be allocated for the army, navy and the airforce, fulfilling their modern-day requirements.
JUDICIAL SYSTEM: Premier Aziz was of the view that the judicial system would also have to be reformed in accordance with the new dynamics, thus reducing difficulties of the common man.
He promised to provide new resources for both the departments for the long-term reforms, ensuring prompt and easy justice to the masses.
"We will address the factors, which are pushing the youth to adopt criminal lifestyle. We will fight poverty and joblessness on priority," the Prime Minister maintained.
Shaukat Aziz said the process of devolution of power would be strengthened, with main focus on rural and under developed areas.
Earlier, the Speaker turned down some members' suggestion that instead of casting vote of confidence, they should be counted.
Immediately after the Prime Minister concluded his written speech, the members started leaving the House, as the Speaker gave floor to some MNAs to greet the new Prime Minister.
Zafarullah Jamali, some lady members and 'ministers' were keen to have photo sessions with Shaukat Aziz before the process for confidence vote started.
Under rule 285 of the rules of procedure and conduct of the business, an elected prime minister has to take the confidence vote within 60 days after the ascertainment.
Shaukat is the third premier in less than two years, who got the confidence vote from the Assembly.
One of the fronts on which Premier Shaukat will have to fight is the joint opposition, regrouping to push forward its campaign for 'restoration of democracy and the Parliament's sovereignty'.