PML-Q White Paper rejected: Prime Minister to present extensive record of achievements, says Sherry

Rejecting the PML-Q White-Paper on the 100-day performance of the PPP-led government, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman said the previous government had given nothing to the nation except crises while the present government had come up with relief for the masses within a short span of time.
Speaking at a press conference at a local hotel here on Friday, Ms Rehman said that Pakistan Peoples Party welcomes positive criticism and takes it in a constructive manner. She said that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani would present a comprehensive record of achievements of the present government during its initial 100 days.
The minister said the nation witnessed many crises during the previous government rule -crushing of stock market, privatisation of Pakistan Steel Mill at throw away price, Atta, sugar and etc. She said that trade deficit had reached at all time high level during the previous government rule.
She said it was an honour for the present government that its Prime Minister was elected unanimously for the first time in the country's history. In the same way, all four provincial governments were formed with consensus. She said that the present regime had given wheat support price.
The minister assured that the PPP-led government would make Pakistan self-sufficient in wheat and ensure availability of the commodity on affordable price. "We will make Pakistan a wheat exporting country in the next few years," she asserted.
She said that the Prime Minister had ordered to open Utility Stores in every Union Council before August 14, 2008. She reminded that the utility stores scheme was initiated by the Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto government. She said the government would overcome load shedding and steer the country out of this crisis.
She pointed out the country was getting electricity from the power generation plants, which were set up during the government of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. She said that the present government saved 300MW in the system through various measures. "We will feed 3000MW to the national grid by the end of this year and keep increasing its generation every year," she added.
Rehman said that the government was going to launch Benazir Bhutto Income Support Scheme through which the poor would be supported with Rs 50 billion. The scheme will start in August. She said that the present government believed in press freedom and more laws would be enacted in this regard in consultation with all the stakeholders.
The government increased the salaries by 20 percent and minimum wages were raised to Rs 6000 from Rs 4600. Regarding Balochistan, she said that the Prime Minister announced special packages for the Province. Many Baloch leaders were released and many more cases were in the process.
She said that the federal government had directed to the Balochistan government to provide 10,000 jobs to the locals to reduce unemployment in the province. She said the present government gave priority to health and education and increased budget allocations for the two important sectors. A programme had been chalked out for recruitment of 10,000 Lady Health Visitors, she added. She said the peace talks with India which had come to a halt during the previous government, have been restarted during the present government.