Prime Minister-designate Shaukat Aziz has expressed the hope that the pace of progress and development will take boost in the country in the days to come.
"We will expedite the development process to bring positive change in the living standards of people and to ensure stability in the prices of daily use commodities," Shaukat told a local television in an interview telecast on Saturday.
He said efforts would be made to provide basic facilities of life such as, road infrastructure, drinking and agriculture water, natural gas, electricity, health facilities etc to every citizen.
"To ensure self-respect and prompt delivery of justice to every citizen, reforms will be made in policing and judicial systems," he added.
"By showing extraordinary confidence during by-elections, the people have put great responsibilities upon our shoulders," Shaukat said, adding, "we will try our best to come up to their expectations." Efforts would be made in next three years to evolve and implement welfare-oriented policies for the people, he said.
To a question he said, as prime minister it would be convenient for him to ensure the implementation of policies by monitoring the inter-ministries co-ordination.
Lack of co-ordination among the ministries had been an obstacle in smooth advancement of development process to which as the premier he would try to cure, Shaukat said.
He said: "The areas of security, judiciary, unemployment, agriculture need special government attention, which will be given now."
Asked will he retain the portfolio as the finance minister after becoming prime minister, Shaukat Aziz said, reply to this question would come when the cabinet is announced.
To another question he said, as finance minister he remained closely linked with the political leadership of the country and the relations with them will now further be improved.
"All of us want progress and development in the country and welfare of its people," the PM-designate said, adding, "to raise the honour and dignity of Pakistan and the Ummah at international level."
Responding to yet another question he said, "it will be ensured to maintain the merit at every level in government's functioning," adding, "it is the only way leading to progress and prosperity."
TIES WITH OPPOSITION: On his relations with the opposition Shaukat Aziz said that he will try to carry them all along at least on the major challenges facing the country.
"They have the right to criticise government's policies but in productive way," Shaukat said, adding the practice of criticism for the sake of criticism would serve no purpose.
"However, my personal relations with all the political parties are good, he said, adding, "we hope all of them think in favour of Pakistan and its people as do the PML."
On foreign policy, he said the priorities in this regard would he announced when the new government takes charge.
About Indo-Pak relations he said, "Pakistan wants peaceful solution of all disputes with India given the issue of Kashmir is resolved in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people."