ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday that the polity and administration of Pakistan is passing through a critical phase and committed persons are needed to face the economic and administrative challenges.
Addressing the participants of the National Management Course, the prime minister said public policy and public management are challenging tasks which require capable and motivated persons at every level of public service. “We face economic and administrative challenges, therefore, committed public servants and efficient public sector managers are a critical necessity,” he added.
He said the unanimous passage of 18th and 19th amendments to the Constitution has provided the basis of re-definition in the role of all levels of governments. He said the 7th NFC Award had also made available more resources to the provinces to enable them to provide essential services to the people.
He said the senior civil servants should have three basic objectives, among others in the performance of their duties. “Firstly, you must have clear priorities as set by the elected representatives of the people, secondly the civil servants must aim to achieve and deliver high quality services to the people and thirdly they must ensure efficient use of the resources available to administer their departments,” said the prime minister.
Prime Minister Gilani described the meeting with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Sindh in Mohali at the sidelines of cricket World Cup semi-final match between Pakistan and India as positive, saying that the Indian premier seriously wants better relations with Pakistan.
“I had held four meetings with Manmohan Singh during which the Indian premier showed willingness to discuss all issues with Pakistan, including the issue of Kashmir,” the prime minister said in a question-answer session with the participants after his address.
He told the participants that dialogue was the only way forward to resolve the outstanding issues. He said progress had been made in interior ministers’ talks and foreign secretary level talks will be held soon. “Both the sides realised to focus on poverty alleviation, unemployment, disease and hunger in the region.”
To a question, the prime minister said the judiciary and media were active. “The PPP respects the judiciary and it is in our manifesto to restore it and its independence,” he added. He said the PPP had rendered sacrifices for the judiciary and he had ordered for its restoration before taking oath as prime minister through an executive order.
About relations with Afghanistan, Prime Minister Gilani said he had interacted with Afghan President Hamid Karzai four times and there is realisation in Afghan government that without the help of Pakistan, it cannot win the war.
Regarding the devolution of Education Ministry, he said the entire nation was united. He said according to the 18th Amendment, a reforms committee was constituted, headed by Senator Raza Rabbani, and there was a complete consensus in both the houses of parliament on the devolution and the irritants will be removed and issues will be resolved.
To a question on accountability of politicians, the prime minister said that the people will decide about their future and they will disqualify them. About the terrorist activities, he said in fact it was the result of policies of the previous government, which did not take a clear decision.
The premier said poverty, illiteracy and lack of facilities are the root causes of militancy. “We are fighting the foreign funded al-Qaeda and Taliban mafia,” said the prime minister, adding without elimination of terrorism, investors would not come to the region.
He said the government united the entire nation to support the policy on terrorism, which is a big achievement. “We had managed to return 2.5 million IDPs in nine days to their native places. We have launched successful military action in Swat and Malakand and captured the strongholds of militants,” he added.
