Govt’s unilateral policies ‘causing grave strain on federation’: President

Joint session
Denounces govt’s unilateral decision to carve out more canals from the Indus River System
ISLAMABAD
President Asif Ali Zardari has said we should put national interest supreme and set aside personal and political differences. He said this while addressing joint session of parliament here Monday. He said We should us work together to revive our economy, strengthen our democracy, and uphold the rule of law. Let us strive to build a Pakistan that is just, prosperous, and inclusive and make the best use of this parliamentary year. Thank You!
He said I urge this House to focus on promoting good governance, and political and economic stability. Our people have pinned their hopes on parliament, and we must rise to meet their expectations.
He said the population dynamics of our country have changed. A combination of factors presents challenges we must address. The high rate of our population growth along with strategic drift in our administrative machinery has increased governance issues manifold. It is my considered opinion that this House should take its responsibilities seriously, and play its role in a real re-set of our governance and service delivery outcomes.
He said ministries too need to redefine their vision and objectives, and understand that pressing issues faced by the people of Pakistan have to be resolved within a certain time frame. We need to deliver tangible benefits to restore the trust of the people in democratic institutions.
Democracy needs give and take, and what better place to work on collective goals than this Parliament? As elected representatives, you function as role models for the nation. As you go about your parliamentary business think beyond narrow goals. Think of the unity and consensus our country so desperately needs.
I would urge all of you to empower our people, make decisions of national importance with consensus, encourage domestic and international investments for economic growth and job creation, foster social and economic justice, and ensure fairness and transparency in our system. He underlined for any country to prosper, it must build equitably. This is going to be a century of many new global challenges, and to weather such transitions, we need to ensure that all of our peoples, with their different regions and resources, are on board for national development.
It is my firm belief that a strong Pakistan is one where the fruits of progress and development are equally shared by all its provinces and citizens.
He stressed we should work actively to promote inclusive and uniform development, ensuring that no province, no district, and no village is left behind. This House should ensure that development is not limited to a few selected areas but reaches every nook and corner of the country. The ignored and neglected areas demand urgent attention from the federal government.
They also need investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities to address their sense of deprivation. Parliament is the one forum where any sense of deprivation cannot just be aired constructively but also addressed with political empathy by the executive branch. That is the test of real statecraft.
He stressed on working with determination for a better future of the country. “We have to promote good governance and political stability in the country. We have to work together to strengthen our democratic system,” the president continued.
The president told the parliamentarians that people have pinned their hope on them and “we must rise to the occasion.”
He stated that it was his foremost duty to remind you that “we need to work harder to strengthen our democratic system, restore public confidence in the rule of law, and put Pakistan on the road to prosperity.”
The country’s economy has stabilized, he said and commended the government for taking steps for reduction in the policy rate and filling the kitty with foreign exchange.
President Zardari said that “we have to pay full attention to the public service sector, focus on public welfare projects.
“The country needs unity and political stability; and promotion of social justice in the country is vital to evolve a just society.”
In this regard, improving our taxation system is essential to moving forward as a country.
Pakistan should also diversify its exports, focusing on value-added goods and services..
Would like to urge this House to play its role in improving the Ease of Doing Business. Investors, small businesses, and international companies must find Pakistan an attractive destination for investment.
Today the common man, the labourers, and the salaried class are facing serious economic hardships. Our citizens are burdened by inflation, high prices of essential items, and rising energy costs. As we approach the next budget, I urge this Parliament and the government to provide real relief to the people.
The government should take measures in the forthcoming budget to increase salaries and pensions, reduce income taxes on salaried classes and lower energy costs, which would help reduce the financial burden on them. At the same time, we should avoid downsizing and job cuts. Instead, our focus should be on creating jobs and utilizing trained manpower productively.