FY13 budget: Prime Minister spells out priorities

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani here on Sunday said job creation, food security and meeting energy shortages will be priorities of the next federal budget. Addressing a press conference at Prime Minister's House, the Prime Minister said more incentives would be given to the farmers to increase production, which in turn will ensure food security.
The federal cabinet in its next meeting will discuss the priorities of the federal budget, he informed.
He said the government has controlled the problem of inflation, which remained an international phenomenon.
He said the provinces are responsible for controlling price hike and profiteering.
However, the federal government is even sharing the burden of provinces by importing fertilisers worth billions of rupees and then giving it to the farmers on subsidised rates.
Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) will continue simultaneously with other programmes to provide relief to the people, he added.
He said PML-Q chief, Chaudhry Shujaat gave him the suggestion that the federal and provincial governments should pool their resources to resolve the issue of circular debt.
To a question, he said Pakistan sees United States as a partner and relations of the two countries should be based on mutual interest and mutual respect.
He said during his meeting with US President Barack Obama during the Security Summit in Seoul, he conveyed his viewpoint that Pakistan and US could not take forward their bilateral ties without support of the people.
President Obama responded that his country respects the sovereignty of Pakistan and will also respect the resolution of the parliament but their security needs should also be taken care of.
He said foreigners should not use soil of Pakistan for spread of terrorism.
The whole world is concerned about the issue of terrorism and it is embarrassing when terrorist incidents happen.
About presence of Osama Bin Laden, he said it was the intelligence failure of the world.
ISI and CIA were working together to achieve the target and many high value targets were nabbed, he added.
The Prime Minister said there is no confrontation with the Supreme Court.
However, appointment of officers including Attorney General is prerogative of the government.
The Prime Minister said if Imran Khan has any formula to get rid of corruption in 90 days, then he should inform him (Prime Minister) and he will implement suggestions.
The Prime Minister said he has taken briefing from the Foreign Minister and Interior Minister on the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and on the situation in Afghanistan in context of the recent incidents.
He emphasised that political reconciliation was the only way forward to establish stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan would act as a facilitator to help create suitable conditions for peace.
He said drone attacks are counter productive and the adoption of a unanimous resolution by the parliament on foreign affairs will strengthen position of the government when it will engage the international community.
To a question about the Seraiki province, he said the manifesto committee of Pakistan People's Party would decide contours of the new Seraiki province.
He said Seraiki province was a work in progress for centuries and now many organisations are working on the issue and PPP has given voice to the aspirations of the people of Seraiki belt.
He said consensus would be evolved among the parties for constitutional amendments on the issue of a new province.
The Prime Minister appreciated the statement of Altaf Hussain in support of Seraiki province.
Gilani also welcomed the latest statement of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on a new province and said issue of creation of new provinces is part of manifesto of many parties.
President ANP Asfandyar Wali told him that creation of a Seraiki province is part of their manifesto, he added.
The Prime Minister said even members of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz support the new Seraiki province.
He said PPP withdrew its members from an earlier cabinet to provide space for federal ministers of PML-Q, which joined the government as coalition partners after withdrawal of PML-N from the federal government.
After the passage of the 18th amendment, there will be a limit on the size of the cabinet after the next elections, he added.
Responding to a question, the Prime Minister said general elections would be held on time and at present the issues of holding of local bodies' elections and voter lists are before the courts.
He said he has take along the coalition partners and any decision pertaining to elections will be taken after consultation with them.
Gilani said today's politics is like horror movies and it is not the job of the faint hearted.
"I worked with Benazir Bhutto and she was a brave leader and I am not concerned about the difficulties of politics."