Responding to criticism on the performance of the current government, it has been learnt that Zardari House has sent a twenty two-point fact sheet to prominent PPP personalities regarding the first three months of the current government. Amongst the points includes one stating that the "PPP has done better than any previous government in its first 100 days."
MNA Farahnaz Ispahani on behalf of the Zardari House Press Office sent the email to PPP leaders Raza Rabbani, Safdar Abbasi, Farzana Raja and Mehreen Bhutto amongst others. Also included were federal ministers Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman, Syed Khurshid Shah and Farooq Naek as well as provincial minister Shazia Marri.
The 22-point email asks PPP leaders to mention in their media appearances the accomplishments of the government to date as well as a blistering criticism of the previous administration. Amongst the lists of accomplishments, the Zardari House Press Office mentions the emphasis given to agriculture, adding that it as changed the wheat export policy to ensure the supply of flour to utility stores.
The report mentions the PMs announcement of a wheat support price as "benefiting the farmers." Also mentioned is the implementation of a "key election promise" of having the UN investigate the murder of their former leader. This was agreed on in principle by the Secretary General earlier this week.
Squarely blaming the previous government for the economic problems the country faces, the report mentions that the PPP's predecessors "inflicted heavy damages on the country's economy" and also criticises them for "fudging figures and patronising... cartels."
Further criticising the old regime, the PPP mentions the privatisation of Pakistan Steel Mills at a "throwaway price" as another shortcomings. The email, in possession of Business Recorder, also charges that the last Economic Survey has proven that the previous government fell short on "all macroeconomic targets", mentioning recent figures for GDP growth, forex reserves, the depreciation of the rupee and rampant inflation.
The report also slams the previous government for keeping petroleum prices "frozen despite massive increases in international prices" adding that this has forced the present government to "make the necessary adjustments" but fails to mention the details.
The email leaked to Business Recorder also claims the previous government did nothing to deal with growing energy demands while claiming that the PPP government will end the power crisis by 2009.
In addition to blaming their predecessors for the nation's economic problems, the fact sheet lauds the role the Gilani-led government has played in helping the country's poor, adding that "on many things decisions have been taken and projects initiated."
Citing the Benazir Bhutto Income Transfer Scheme, Zardari House says this will be a Rs 34-50 billion subsidy for the "poorest of the poor". The restoration of student unions and labour unions is also mentioned as a key step in empowering the masses, as well as the end of the IRO 2002. The email ends its section on empowerment adding that a "number of steps" have been taken to ensure gender equality.
Carefully dealing with the issue of the deposed judiciary, the internal PPP document adds that the detention of the judges was ended and that "following in democratic traditions" the PPP government allowed the Long March to take place.
The report also mentions the attempts by the PPP to restore the supremacy of Parliament through a constitutional package, adding that it "is under discussion with allies." Also key to strengthening parliament, the document mentions the debating of the nation's defence budget in the National Assembly.
Addressing the issues of rising extremism and militancy in Pakistan, the PPP internal memo admits "there is still a lot to be done on [the] terrorism front" but mentions that suicide attacks in heavily populated areas have reduced. The report also tells PPP leaders to mention the "tough action" taken in the Khyber Agency and other parts of the NWFP against "private militias".
Through sending these talking points to key PPP personalities, Zardari House clearly hopes to temper a wave of bad publicity recently generated against the PPP government. Through it's strong criticisms of the previous government's economic performance and touting it's own achievements on the social front, Zardari House must hope to temper waves of discontent both within the party and the populace at large.
TALKING POINTS ON 100 DAYS:
1. Previous government inflicted heavy damages to the country's economy.
2. It fudged figures, and patronised the so-called sugar, wheat, stock market cartels, etc.
3. It also engineered the privatisation of Pakistan Steels Mills at a throwaway price.
4. And practically did nothing to foresee and take necessary measures to handle the energy crisis. The present government is taking steps to end the crippling power crisis by 2009.
5. Petroleum prices were also kept frozen despite massive increase in the international prices. PPP had no choice but to make the necessary adjustments and the fact is that in order to reduce the burden on consumers it is still providing a subsidy on petroleum products.
6. Last Economic Survey reflects what the economic policies of previous regime brought to Pakistan. - All macroeconomic targets were missed.
7. The rate of GDP growth fell to 5.8 percent against a target of 7.2 percent, while the fiscal deficit increased to 7% percent of GDP against a target of 4%r percent.
-- The current account deficit also increased and inflation jumped to 10.3 percent against a target of 6.5 percent.
-- Food or core inflation was even higher - at 15 percent.
-- Heavy borrowing by the government made a mockery of the much-hyped Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act 2005 that the government had itself passed.
-- In the first nine months alone, the country's external debt rose to $45.9 billion - an increase of $5.9 billion.
-- Foreign exchange reserves had dropped to $12.3 billion by the end of April 2008, significantly lower than the June 2007 level of $15.6 billion.
-- The Pakistani rupee started depreciating because of the heavy trade deficit (20 billion USD) and massive bank borrowing by the previous government.
7. PPP has done better than any previous government in its first 100 days.
8. PM has clearly mentioned the priorities of government that is to adopt pro-poor policies and on many things decisions has been taken and projects initiated.
9. Rs 34-50 billion allocation to Benazir Bhutto Income Transfer Scheme, a ditcet subsidy to the poorest of the poor.
10. United Nations has approved the principled stand of the present government for an international probe into the assassination of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. This was one of the key election promise with the nation.
11. Restoration of Labour Unions and Students' Unions, end of Industrial Regulation Ordinance (IRO) 2002 that was denying the labourers their rights.
12. Number of steps taken for betterment of women and ensuring their equal rights.
13. Present government has given priority to agriculture. And unlike previous government policy to export wheat, supply of flour to utility stores is being ensured. The Prime Minister announced wheat support price to benefit the farmers and also to ensure that in the future the wheat growers could meet the need of the nation.
14. Detention of the judges was immediately removed and their salaries paid.
15. Confirmation of those employees that were working on adhoc basis in government departments. Thousands of people had a sigh of relief over this single step
16. Government jobs available in the federal departments have been advertised and hundreds of unfilled vacancies are being filled.
17. Those terminated from government departments on political basis have been restored on their jobs.
18. For the first time in the history of Pakistan Defence budget was tabled on the floor of the house and discussed.
19. To restore the powers of the National Assembly and the elected government vis a vis the President, a constitutional package has been proposed and is under discussion with allies.
20. Tough action has been taken against private militias in Khyber agency and other parts of NWFP.
21. Although there is still a lot to be done on terrorism front but in comparison of the past the number of suicide attacks in the settled areas has considerably reduced.
22. Following in democratic traditions, PPP government allowed peaceful protest in Islamabad (Long March of Lawyers).
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