Islamabad : The National Assembly Friday expressed its gratitude to the President Asif Ali Zardari for his address to the joint sitting of the parliament.Winding up debate on President's address to the Parliament Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo said that Asif Ali Zardari is the first President who handed over his powers to the parliament.
He said that the President in his address has referred to the challenges being faced by the country and invited all the political forces to collectively respond them. He said it is the present government which abolished the concurrent and handed over powers to the provinces. He said this step will further strengthen the federation.The Minister said that the present government is continuing the policy of national reconciliation and taking on board Muslim (Q) is also part of that policy and no one should object to it. He also invited other political parties to join hands with the government to overcome all the problems facing the country.He said due to economic reforms introduced by the present government the exports and foreign exchange reserves have reached record level. He said under the Benazir Income Support Programme, financial assistance is being given to deserving segments of the society. He said due to pro-farmer policies the country has become self-sufficient in major crops. He said that sufficient stock of wheat is available and the country is expecting a bumper crop this year. He said steps are also being taken to cope with the energy crisis and work on different hydel and other projects have been started.He said that the credit goes to the present government for re-instating seven thousand sacked employees besides regularizing the services of contract employees. PPI