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DOCUMENT No.
2
Excerpts from President’s Address To The Nation
(20 November 2002)
I
would like to present before you my personal conduct and performance of my
government during the past three years. The governments are run with the
confidence of the people. The people lay their future in the hands of the
government. It is incumbent upon the rulers to honour the people’s confidence
and fulfil their promises.
I want to remind you about the state of affairs as it existed on
12th of October 1999. I do it because we quickly forget the past. I
would like to briefly remind you about it. What did we inherit? Pakistan was
about to be declared a terrorist country or a failed state. This danger was
confronting us. The ship of the country was facing a severe storm and no way
out was in sight. The economy was faced with default. Banks and financial
institutions had been looted and plundered. High government officials were
involved in corruption. All government institutions, namely PIA, Steel Mills,
Railways, KESC were about to be declared bankrupt. The method of governance
was getting from bad to worse.
Pakistan was constantly under Indian pressure. The overall atmosphere was that
of dismay. As for Pakistan’s economic conditions, we had foreign exchange
reserves of about one billion dollars. But out of this amount, the
government’s own reserves accounted only for 300 or 400 million dollars. If
they are converted into imports, these reserves were barely sufficient for
about four weeks of imports. Foreign debts had gone up to 38 billion dollars
and were increasing at the rate of one and a half to two billion dollars per
annum. As a result 63 percent debts in 1991 stood at 442 billion rupees, which
increased to 1642 billion rupees in 1999.
There was recession in the world, second was the continued
drought, third the eleventh September incident, which had negative impact on
our exports and investment and the fourth jolt was that of warlike situation
imposed on us by India. These were the additional jolts to our economy. By the
grace of Allahtala, we faced all these difficulties.
Now I would like to tell you about the performance of my
government. What we achieved during these three years could not be achieved by
the previous governments during the past eleven or twelve years.
Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves which stood at one billion
dollars have crossed eight and half billion dollars mark. Looking at these
reserves in terms of imports, these are enough for ten months imports as
compared to reserves good only four weeks requirements in the past. Insha
Allah these foreign exchange reserves will cross the ten billion dollars mark
during the current year.
The foreign debts that stood at 38 billion dollars, have been
brought down to 36 billion dollars for the first time in Pakistan’s history.
That has been reduced by two billion dollars. The debt was increasing as in
the past. Our foreign debts would have gone up to 44 to 45 billion dollars. It
would not have been reduced to 36 billion dollars. Furthermore we have reduced
by four billion dollars the high interest bearing loans which were consuming
63 percent of our budget. Now it stands at 48 percent. This means that now we
have more funds left for development projects. The internal debts that were
increasing at the rate of sixteen percent annually, have been reduced us for
the first time in country’s history.
Due to the measures, as compared to about one hundred billion
rupees development expenditure during eight to ten years before 1999, this
year we are investing 134 billion rupees on development projects.
During the past three years we have brought this figure to 404
billion rupees raising it from 300 billion rupees, that is, we have increased
the tax collection by one hundred billion rupees, the tax collection during
previous ten years had increased by one hundred billion and had gone up to 200
to 300 billion rupees which by the grace of Allah had crossed 450 billion
rupees during the last three years.
Exports in Pakistan’s history never increased beyond nine billion dollars. We
crossed this figure during last two years by nine billion dollars. This is a
record for Pakistan. Insha Allah this year our plan is to increase the exports
beyond ten billion dollars. Looking at the figures of the first three months
exports could increase by about twelve percent, but actually they have
increased by fifteen percent. Insha alllah our exports would cross the ten
billion dollars mark.
We are spending 130 billion rupees on these development projects.
For the progress of agriculture, we are constructing a number of dams, that is
water reservoirs, canals and work has begun on the drainage projects. These
include Mangla, Merani dam, Gomal Zam dam, Thal Renee Karachi canal. You must
have heard that the Chotiari dam project in Sindh has been completed. I shall
be inaugurating the project. For improvement of communications system, many
mega projects have been started. These include Karachi-Gwadar coastal highway,
M-I, Peshawar-Rawalpindi road, M-3, Pindi Bhattian to Faisalabad road.
Northern byepass, which we call m-10, Lyari expressway, Bunder
road, ring road and in northern areas, three roads that would attract tourism.
You must have heard all about it. Work is going ahead speedily on all these
projects. The work on Gwadar port is in progress at a very fast pace. This
should have been completed three years back. Now Insha Allah, the way the work
is going on, the project shall be completed within 30 months. In Baluchistan,
the Saindak copper project, which had been lying abandoned has been revived,
producing jobs to many people. We are also laying down double railway track
from Karachi to Peshawar.
In the power sector, work on the Thar coal project has started.
It was lying abandoned for the last ten years and no one was coming forward to
run the project. We have revived the project. This project, Insha Allah Tala
will produce gas and electricity. This will not only result in the progress of
the region, but will also lead to prosperity of the people in the most
backward area.
In the information technology sector, access to internet has been
increased from 29 to 850 cities. Bandwidth capacity which was 30 megabyte had
been increased to 400 megabyte per second. Bandwidth cost was not such that
information technology was not making progress. It has come down from ninety
thousand dollars per month to only three hundred thousand and eight hundred
dollars per month. It is helping the growth of information technology.
Countless software parks, institutes, universities and virtual university have
been opened and they are now in operation. Special attention has been given to
industrial sector. In textile, one billion dollars investment shall be made
for setting up new factories and for the up-gradation of machinery.
We have to improve the quality of life of millions of people.
Provision of jobs to a few thousands shall not make any change. Our government
has studied the ways and means of removing poverty and carried out an
analysis. After that a comprehensive plan has been chalked out, about which I
want to tell you. Please listen to me carefully. Before I come to the details,
it is important to know the answers about two things. Firstly, the question is
as to where the poverty lies and where the poverty is rampant. Only then a
plan can be drawn. Poverty in my view is at three places. Firstly it is in the
rural areas because sixty to seventy percent of our population lives in the
rural areas.
Gwadar port and coastal highway are the important projects that we
are constructing. There is lot of fish in this region and dates are produced
in abundant in Turbat and Punjgoor which presently is being used as a fodder
for the animals. There are one hundred and thirty varieties of dates in the
area, but they are all wasted. Insha Allah with the construction of Gwadar
port and coastal highway, this produce will find its way to Karachi and
foreign markets. This will increase the income of hundreds of thousands of
people in the area. There will be more jobs. About increase in earning through
land I have already told you.
ADBP, which used to give loans to the rich people and those who
were defaulting. Now directive has been issued not to give loans over and
above one million rupees and loans of less than one hundred thousand to get
much more importance. This will help people earn their living.
Now take the railways, it was incurring 2.5 billion rupees of loss
every year. Now this has become a profitable institution. In the first
quarter, it has earned half a billion rupees profit. It has employed new
engineers, got new coaches. Neat and clean trains are running. These trains
are running on time. I have feed back about it. Everyone is appreciating it.
All the railway stations are clean and have become modern. This was about
railway. Now take the case of PIA, it was about to go bankrupt. Now Insha
Allah this year it will earn a profit of 2.5 billion rupees. And we are
purchasing new planes for PIA.
Take the case of steel mill. It was running in loss. It owed a
loan of 19 billion rupees and this loan was increasing. In these three years,
we repaid five billion rupees worth of loans. Now it is running in profit.
Now about WAPDA. It was a sinking organization. It has been
reformed to a great extent. I know people used to criticize its performance
and still are saying so. But I want to tell you that they have worked very
hard to improve it. Let me throw some light on their performance. First of all
about IPPS, that is independent power producers. These are private companies
which produce electricity. All disputes with them have been resolved. This has
helped save six billion dollars or 360 billion rupees. These 360 billion
rupees over the life of projects. Their annual income had been to the tune of
93 billion rupees which went up to 18 billion rupees. If these had not been
closed, then these IPPS this year would have been paid 109 billion rupees by
WAPDA. Where from they could find such a huge sum? Let me tell you that last
year WAPDA paid 84 billion rupees to the IPPS and next year you must know that
WAPDA would have to pay 115 billion rupees to the IPPS whether or not you use
the electricity provided by them. By 2004, there will be some decrease in this
count.
About the education sector. We have made a complete appraisal
about it and have done planning in four areas. This related to literacy
campaign, primary and secondary education, higher education and madressa
education. At primary education level, we have introduced new syllabus, new
curriculum and new books have been published, which are being introduced in
the schools. After that in rural areas and the urban areas, there will be
similar syllabus. Special attention has been paid to training of teachers.
Hundreds of thousands of teachers have completed training.
A new university ordinance has been enforced. I know there have
been strikes in many universities against this ordinance. I want to point out
that the teachers and the students are brothers. You must know that our
universities are in a very bad shape. There is no doubt about it. Do you have
any doubt about it? If we want to bring about improvement then new planning is
must. If we have to develop the education sector, we will need new planning
otherwise we not change and the country will never be able to make progress. I
am glad that professor Ata-ur-Rahman has talked to the vice chancellors and
the students and they have almost reached a settlement.
In the field of science and technology, we plan to institute
linkage between the industry and the university. The universities should
impart education in subjects which relate to the industry. There should be
increase in exports and import substitution as well. In this field we have
greatly increased the budgetary provisions for pioneer education. In 1999, the
budget of the ministry of science and technology was only 140 million rupees,
that is point two billion rupees. This year we have raised their budget to
6.74 billion rupees.
In law and order, far reaching and revolutionary changes have
been brought about. 140 years old obsolete police act has been replaced by
police ordinance 2002. Entry into police service has been made through merit
and this is the criteria. Posts above ASI are being filled through public
service commission and those of constables through a board. The posts are
being filled on the pattern of army’s ISSB system and far better people are
coming forward. Police responsibilities have been re-allocated. That is, their
responsibility of prosecution has now been handed over to the provincial
prosecution service, which is being introduced.
Three and a half billion rupees have been provided for providing
transport and communication facilities and accommodation to the police.
Anti terrorist institutions are being set up at the centre and in
the provinces. They have carried out very successful operations and have
eliminated most notorious gangs and individuals and arrested a number of them.
The most important in the police reforms is that the police is now answerable
to the peoples representatives.
As for the accountability, the national accountability bureau has
been set up. Its work is satisfactory and I know there is criticism about
them. Results are not hundred percent. But whatever work they have done, I
want to tell you it has never been done in the history of Pakistan.
Overall, they have regularized an amount of 160 billion rupees.
All their actions have been across the board and non discriminatory and it
started from the top. They apprehended people nobody could touch in the past.
They took action against 532 government servants, 180 politicians, 150
businessmen and 18 military personnel.
Our government followed a successful foreign policy during the
most critical juncture. Alhamdo lillah Pakistan’s prestige has increased. We
have good relations with all the countries. These include china, gulf
countries, turkey, SAARC member states, the us, European union countries,
Japan, south east Asia, central Asian republics, Islamic countries. With all
of these countries our relations are good.
As for relations with India, we always kept aloft Pakistan’s
sovereignty and honour. We did not accept any pressure. We promoted the
Kashmir cause I the world. I personally raised voice for the supremacy of
Islam in all the international for a.
Besides this, the government allowed freedom to the media. There
is no precedence that media ever enjoyed such freedom in Pakistan’s history.
Now in conclusion, let me mention the political reforms. There was
never true democracy in Pakistan and political governments never came to the
expectations of the people. To say that they were not allowed time is totally
wrong. As I said earlier over the past twelve years before 1999, every
government had about two and a half to three years time. This is the time span
that our government got. For this there was a dire need for political reforms.
The first question arises as to why democracy failed in Pakistan. In my view
there are two reasons.
There was no effective institution to check and oversee
government’s corruption and incompetence. Secondly, no power was given to the
people at the lower level to resolve their problems. People were never given
any power. We started the political reforms from the local level. Local
governments came into being as a result of silent revolution in august
2001. The people have been empowered in financial and administrative
matters. Government officials have been placed under the peoples
representatives. So much so the police too will be answerable to the peoples
representatives. Women, minorities, labourers, farmers have been given special
representation. It is the duty of all of us to ensure the working of the local
governments so that the peoples problems are solved at the local level.
In the end, I fulfilled my commitment by holding the elections in
October in accordance with the verdict of the supreme court. These elections
were totally impartial and transparent. There were some allegations but I
consider them baseless.
I
have placed before you honestly the performance of my government. As I have
stated I also am issuing a white paper about it. I assure you that whatever I
have done, it was for the betterment of Pakistan and its people. Every step
that I took was guided by the spirit of honesty, sincerity and patriotism.
There can be mistakes. But the intention has always been good. The country is
still faced with countless problems. Most of them are self created. Their
solution may be difficult, but not impossible. Pakistan has the resources and
the people have the potential. Pakistan first, should be our spirit and our
motto. Our government has shown the right path and corrected the direction of
the country. The ship of the nation has been steered clear out of the stormy
seas and is well set on its destination. Now it is the duty of the elected
government to get the country its due place.
<http://www.infopak.gov.pk/President_Addresses/President_Address_20Nov.htm>
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