Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz giving detailed account of his past life, committed that he will use all his abilities to serve the nation and Islam.
"I never thought of becoming a prime minister, I never lobbied for this position, but I have been praying throughout my life for an opportunity to serve the nation and Islam", Shaukat Aziz told PTV.
"Now when I have got an opportunity, I will utilise all my potential to materialise my cherished ambition", he added.
Shaukat said his nomination papers for the national assembly seat from Attock and Tharparkar would be filed in next few days and by-elections in these constituencies would be held in the month of August, adding the selection of his election constituencies was made by the party, and he himself deems entire Pakistan as his constituency.
He expressed his resolve to take the country in the right direction, and bring positive change in the life of people.
To a question, Shaukat said he had been meeting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during international conference and seminars, adding he (Manmohan Singh) is a good fellow and a humble person.
Personalities do count in bilateral relations, he said, adding but basically the national interests are given priority, and at present, Indo-Pak relations are better and the environment is conducive.
One can hope that under the leadership of Manmohan Singh the process of dialogue between the two countries will move ahead in a positive direction, he maintained.
He hoped the whole range of issues, including Kashmir would come on dialogue table, and would be settled in accordance with the wishes of all the stakeholders.
He said that all out efforts would be made at local, regional and global level to make Pakistan an Asian tiger, adding there is a very promising human capital in Pakistan which if duly utilised can help achieve rapid economic progress.
He said there is no shortage of resources whatsoever, adding all what is required is better management to utilise them.
Speaking about his past life, Shaukat Aziz said he was born in Karachi, and got his basic education from St. Patrick School there. He passed his matric from the Abbottabad Public School, and again came hack to Karachi to join St. Patrick College for intermediate.
Then his family shifted to Islamabad, where he got BSc degree from the Gordon College. He got his MBA degree from the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, in 1969, and got a job in the Citibank, where he served for 30 years, said Shaukat Aziz.
He said during his service with the Citibank he remained posted in 10 countries, but he never broke his ties with Pakistan.
Shaukat said he has three children, the eldest daughter is married, and settled in UK. His son is serving in Bahrain as a banker while his youngest daughter is a university student.
To another question, Shaukat Aziz said he and his family members hold only Pakistani passports, adding having an emotional affiliation with Pakistan it is impossible for them to take oath of loyalty with any other country.
He also said neither he had ever possessed dual nationality nor has he any intention of doing this in future, adding: "I am proud of my Pakistani origin, Pakistan is my country and it has given me honour and status."
Responding to another query, Shaukat said he had been contacted by governments in the past for consultation on economic matters. He already had information about the country's economy when he was contacted by the government of President Pervez Musharraf after the October 12 take-over.
He had no previous interaction with President General Pervez Musharraf.
"I held first meeting with President Musharraf when I was contacted by his government", he said, adding: "After the meeting I proceeded back to the United States where after a week or so."
"I was asked to take position of the finance minister in the new set-up, and I accepted the challenge at time when the country's economy was at the verge of collapse", said Shaukat Aziz.
He said the volume of bills was bigger than the available foreign reserves, and technically, the country was standing at a default position. Had all bills been cleared, the foreign reserves would have gone into negative direction, he added.
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