President Asif Ali Zardari said here on Tuesday that the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award would be announced this year. Talking to senior journalists at the Bilawal House he said the government is trying its level best to develop the country. He made it clear that his government believes in trade, especially regional trade and not in aid.
President Zardari said that a balanced budget has been presented for the fiscal year 2009-10. He said there was a lot of room to increase the country's exports, which were below the potential at 24 billion dollars, which can be increased to 200 billion dollars.
He stated that we would have to attain progress not only for the present generation, but also for the coming generations. President Asif Zardari said that the democracy has been fostered in the country. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto gave her life for the cause of democracy and he also went to jail for this cause, he added.
He said that in 10 months the public opinion as well as the world opinion is in favour of Pakistan. He stated that a consensus has been developed with regard to the war on terror and the people own this war. He said that with a good wheat support price the government has managed to enhance its yield.
President Zardari was optimistic that the water problem would also be resolved. With regard to electricity, he pointed out that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto during her government had come up with a good Independent Power Producers (IPPs) policy for generating 14,000 MW and out of that 4,000 MW was installed. The subsequent governments did not take advantage of this policy and an electricity supply gap emerged in the country, he added.
About Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC), the President said that during his previous visit to Karachi he held a meeting with KESC officials. They are trying to solve the problem and if KESC did not deliver then the government would have no choice but to take it over. He also pointed out that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto during her tenure had given the idea of laying the gas pipeline from Iran.
To a question, President Zardari said that he would announce a package for Lyari. He said that after the budget session, the Prime Minister would hold a meeting with local government ministers of the provinces to decide about the local bodies system.
He said that it augurs well that PPP, MQM and ANP have formed a coalition government in Sindh province. Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Provincial Minister for Information, Ms Shazia Marri were also present on the occasion.
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