Backing the recent hike in petroleum products' price, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira Saturday said that increase in the prices was essential to avoid deficit of Rs 100 billion.
Addressing the inaugural session of two-day national conference on 'Media, Democracy and Good Governance,' organised by South Asia Free Media Association (Safma) here, he said the government was determined to introduce Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) in the country despite the opposition by various stakeholders.
He admitted that the PPP government after coming into power took some unpopular decisions in the larger interest of the country like withdrawing subsidies on utilities to save national economy from crisis. He said that the increase in prices of petroleum products was necessary to avoid deficit of Rs 100 billion.
He said that the government was aware of the high price and it was being abused. But, he said that media and other pressure groups were evading taxes adding that the trend has to be changed now. He made it clear that the PPP government may have made mistakes, but its intentions were not wrong.
About the Charter of Democracy (CoD), the information minister said that 28 out of 32 points of the agreement signed by late Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, have been implemented. He said that the PPP was following policy of reconciliation on the footprint of its late chairperson Benazir Bhutto as the country could not afford confrontation.
Without naming anybody, he also went on saying that PPP leadership accepted National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) only to return home and not for going abroad as a similar deal was done in 2000 that allowed 'some' politicians' safe exit to abroad adding that in October 2007 Benazir Bhutto had returned from exile for uniting political forces despite having knowledge of danger to her life.
Kaira also dispelled the impression of taking dictation from the US saying that the PPP has never been among those who take dictation from foreign powers. Giving details of the achievements of the PPP government, he said the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) award, the 18th amendment and Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan were major steps taken by the incumbent government. Referring to war against terrorism, he said terrorism and extremism was a complex issue adding that we can't claim victory by disbanding only some terror outfits.
Kaira said that media has right to criticise the government, as no genuine democracy can flourish without free media, but it should also suggest practical steps for resolution of the challenges and improvement in governance. He said that his party has always supported and respected media freedom. He said despite the fact that a media house was indulging in mudslinging against the present government, but it has not imposed any curb on the particular group.
He said that the government has been working for implementation of a code of conducts for media in consultation with media, but so far it has not succeeded in its efforts. He said that Chairman of the Press Council will soon be named, which can play good role in resolution of media related issues.
The Information Minister said that Freedom of Information bill has already been tabled in National Assembly, which has referred it to the concerned Standing Committee, which would soon consult with all stakeholders for generating consensus. Similarly, he added to ensure the access of the people to information, the government has set up a databank which will soon be accessible through internet. He said that Journalist Victim Fund has already been formed and an amount has been earmarked for the purpose and only modalities for making this fund operational are to be decided in consultation with journalists' community.
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