Re-election of President Must for Pakistan’s Continued Growth: PM
By Aziz Malik 'Pakistan Times' Federal Bureau Chief

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Tuesday said the re-election of President Pervez Musharraf was essential for Pakistan’s continued growth, progress and stability.

Talking to Parliamentarians at a luncheon hosted by Minister of Health Muhammad Naseer Khan, the Prime Minister said the upcoming election of the President will ‘Inshallah’ proceed seamlessly and was in the best interest of the country.

The luncheon as also attended by former prime ministers Ch. Shujaat Hussain and Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali.

The Prime Minister said the leadership provided by President Musharraf has enabled democracy at the grassroots to flourish in the country through the local bodies system.

He said the National and Provincial Assemblies for the first time in country’s history were completing their terms and added it augurs well for the future of democracy in Pakistan.

The Prime Minister said it was also important to note that all significant political parties were represented in parliament and are actively participating in proceedings and debates.

He said the President’s leadership was essential for country’s security and to enable Pakistan to meet future challenges and help create an image of a progressive country.

The Prime Minister while addressing the MNAs also said that PML and its allied parties had the best collection of candidates for the upcoming elections and they would be successful in winning the confidence of the people on the basis of performance of the government and its policies.

The government through its policies has improved the economy, income of the people has risen, the middle class was growing, poverty has reduced and investment was at all time high.

All sectors, both the rural and urban were benefiting from the upsurge in economic activity and the government has targeted policies for the poor and vulnerable to improve their standards of living.

The Prime Minister however said that much more needs to be done and the PML and allied parties were determined to more forward with renewed vigour.

The Parliamentarians expressed full support to government policies and said that the people of Pakistan want this era of prosperity to continue.

They said that the election of the President Musharraf and the government subsequently formed by PML and its allied parties will ensure continuity and consistency of policies, thus creating an exciting and healthy environment for the future of Pakistan.●