Budget, security issues: government taking coalition partners into confidence, says Gilani

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that the Government is taking all its coalition partners into confidence over the next budget and security issues. He opined that future politics is the politics of coalition; therefore, political parties should develop the spirit of accommodation.
He welcomed the MQM for rejoining the Cabinet. He also expressed his gratitude for the MQM leadership for its political sagacity and support to the Government in the larger national interest. The Prime Minister was talking to the delegation of MQM, which called on him on Friday. The Prime Minister stressed upon the need to prioritise development projects, which could help optimal use of available resources for greater benefits of the common man.
He asked the delegation to appoint a focal person who could sit with the Finance Minister to work out detailed development plan for utilisation of funds being allocated to the parliamentarians belonging to MQM. The Prime Minister said that after the 18th Constitutional amendment and 7th NFC award, major development work has become responsibility of the provincial governments. He assured that the MQM being part of the Government both at the Federal and provincial level would be taken into confidence on development projects either undertaken by the Federal or the provincial governments.
He mentioned that provincial development funds are almost double of the Federal Government. The Prime Minister informed the delegation that the Federal Government has to cut 100 billion from the PSDP to address the urgent needs of the floods affected areas and war on terror.
He said that he would ask the Chief Minister Sindh to take care of the development projects of the coalition partner. The Prime Minister has said that his Government is pursuing the politics of reconciliation and intends to take along the coalition partners in particular and all the political parties in general to bolster the democratic culture in the country. Main objective of this policy is to build consensus over national issues, he added.
He mentioned that it is the second time since establishment of the democratic Government that the Army Chief and head of ISI is coming to brief the Parliament on important matters so that the parliamentarians could evolve a national strategy. The Parliamentary leader of the MQM, Dr Farooq Sattar thanked the Prime Minister for taking his party into confidence on budget and security issues. He opined that regular consultation among the coalition partners on law and order situation in Karachi would help to a great extent in curbing crimes in the mega city.
He stressed upon the need of taking joint action against extortionists, land mafia and drug paddlers. He informed the Prime Minister that Finance Minister has already held a detailed meeting with MQM representatives on budget. He discussed development projects and law and order situation. Mass Transit, Circular Railways, Water Supply, K-4, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto House Scheme, Orangi Water Supply Scheme, M-9 Motorway and Liyari Expressway Projects were also discussed in the meeting.-PR