President Asif Ali Zardari has said that some unilateral policies are putting severe pressure on the federation, and as president, he cannot support the unilateral government decision to divert more canals from the Indus River.
Addressing a joint session of parliament at the beginning of the parliamentary year, the president called on members of parliament to put national interest above all else and to work together to restore the economy and strengthen democracy and the rule of law by putting aside personal and political differences.
According to The Inquirer, President Asif Zardari, while addressing a joint session of Parliament amid the opposition’s uproar, said that as the President, as a patriotic Pakistani, it is my responsibility to warn the House and the government. He said that some unilateral policies are causing severe pressure on the federation, especially the government’s unilateral decision to divert more canals from the Indus River system. I cannot support this proposal as the President.
The President said, ” I request the government to abandon this current proposal and work together with all stakeholders so that a workable, sustainable solution can be found on the basis of a unanimous consensus among the units of the federation. The President stressed that the House of Parliament should fulfill the responsibility entrusted to it, play a role in nation-building, strengthen institutions, and improve governance.
The President said, “Let us put the national interest first and put aside personal and political differences and work together for the revival of the economy, consolidation of democracy and rule of law. “Earlier, as soon as President Asif Ali Zardari began his address, PTI members started protesting by banging their desks. The President put on headphones due to the intense sloganeering.
President Asif Zardari said that it is my sole honor to address the House for the 8th time as a civilian President. This moment reflects the continuity of our democratic journey. The new parliamentary year is an opportunity to review our progress and reiterate our commitment to building a better future for Pakistan.
The President said, “This moment not only marks the continuity of our democratic journey but also provides us with an opportunity to review our progress and renew our commitment to building a better future for Pakistan.”He said, “At the beginning of the new parliamentary year, I appeal to this House to promote good governance and political and economic stability.”
The President said, “It is my first 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 path of prosperity.”
During the protest of opposition members, President Zardari added, “I want to appreciate the government’s efforts to put the country on a positive path through economic development. Our foreign exchange reserves have increased, foreign direct investment has increased significantly, and the stock market has also reached record levels.”
He said that the government has reduced the policy rate from 22 to 12 percent, and all other economic indicators have shown healthy signs of improvement.
The President said, “You know that the demographic dynamics of our country have changed, a combination of factors explains the problems that we have to deal with, the high rate of our population growth coupled with the strategic flow in our administrative machinery has multiplied the problems of governance. It is my considered opinion that this House should take its responsibilities seriously and play its role in the real restoration of our governance and service delivery outcomes.”
President Asif Ali Zardari said, “As far as the government is concerned, the ministries also need to re-align their vision and objectives and understand that the important problems facing the people of Pakistan have to be resolved within a given period. We need to deliver tangible benefits to restore public confidence in democratic institutions.”
The President added that ‘Democracy requires some give and some take, and what better place than this Parliament to work on collective goals?’
Addressing the members of parliament, the President said, ‘As elected representatives, you act as role models for the nation. When you talk about your parliamentary affairs, think beyond limited objectives and think about the unity and consensus that our country desperately needs. ‘I would urge all of you to empower our people, take decisions of national importance by consensus, encourage domestic and international investment for economic growth and job creation, promote social and economic justice, and ensure transparency in our system.
The President also highlighted the need for investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities to address the sense of deprivation in these sectors and spoke about improving the tax system and reforms in the IT industry. He also spoke about the business community, improving the upcoming budget, empowering women, and domestic and regional connectivity.
President Zardari urged the Federal and Provincial Governments to increase the allocation for the education sector in the upcoming budget and provide more opportunities to the youth through scholarships and financial assistance programs. Talking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar Port, he said that both these projects are at the heart of Pakistan’s vision of connectivity.
These projects need to be fully implemented so that Pakistan can serve as a gateway for international trade connecting Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East. He stressed the need to ensure sustainable irrigation systems and mitigate the growing threat of climate change.
