Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz has a proven track record of improving the economy of the country, and he would contest by-elections on this performance with a mission to continue the positive and encouraging economic policies.
This was stated by both PML Central Information Secretary Senator Tariq Azeem Khan and Senator Mohammad Ali Durrani while addressing a press conference here at the PML House on Sunday.
Highlighting the achievement in the economic sector during the last five years by Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz, Senator Tariq Azeem said the GDP growth has reached 6.4 percent which was 3.1 percent in 1999 when he (Shaukat) took over as the finance minister.
Tariq Azeem said inflation has been reduced from 8.5 percent to 3.9 percent from 1999 to 2004 while the external debt has been reduced from $38 billion to $35.8 billion due to the economic policies introduced by Shaukat Aziz.
He said the debt-servicing has been reduced from 64 percent of the budget to 35.4 percent while the allocations for education and health have been increased by more than 20 percent in the last few years.
Tariq Azeem said due to effective economic policies introduced by Shaukat Aziz, the per capita income of average Pakistani has been increased to $652 which is more than many other countries in the region.
Referring to negative propaganda against Shaukat Aziz about his religious affiliations and family members, Tariq Azeem said opposition has been raising unfounded and baseless things only to get political mileage as they knew that they could not stop the victory of Shaukat Aziz in the forthcoming by-elections.
He said due to achievements in various sectors of economy in the last few years, Pakistan has achieved a good reputation in the world in the economic sector, and hoped that with the continuation of these policies, Pakistan would become a prosperous state like Malaysia and Thailand.
Referring to cases of corruption against Benazir Bhutto in the Swiss court, Tariq Azeem said these cases have not been registered against Benazir Bhutto by the present PML government or Pervez Musharraf government, rather these cases were lodged by Nawaz Sharif.
He said, however, the Swiss court has framed the charges of aggravated money laundering against Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari in these cases, adding Benazir has spent more than $3 million on these cases.
Replying to question, he said the government of Pakistan may have spent half of this amount on these cases.
Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani said Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz has the support of the PML and masses due to his achievements for the improvement in the economic policies of the country.
He said Shaukat Aziz moved the country from a very bad economic shape to an honourable and stable state, and at global level Pakistan's better economic conditions are being appreciated.
Replying to a question about change of Mir Zafarullah Jamali, Durrani said everything has been done according to the Constitution and in accordance with rules and regulation and through a consensus of the party.
About resignation of Shaukat Aziz from the Senate seat before contesting election, he said there is no legal obligation to tender resignation to contest any other election, however, when he will win the seat of National Assembly then he will resign from the Senate seat to take oath as an MNA.
Replying to another question, he said due to his efforts the country has been taken out of the clutches of the IMF.
Senator Tariq Azeem said the PML President and Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat offered his personal plane to Jamali, but he (Jamali) refused to accept this offer, and preferred to travel by train.
He said Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain wanted to go to railway station to see him off, but he (Jamali) told Shujaat there is no need to come there.