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JJ recounts govt

achievements

HAFEEZ SHAIKH

HYDERABAD: Adviser to the Chief Executive on National Security, Information and Media Development, Javed Jabbar, on Sunday said Rs 15 billion had been earmarked for poverty alleviation programme for 116 districts.

Talking to local editors and senior journalists at the Hyderabad Circuit House, he said the stress was on small projects with a view to providing jobs to the people especially in the least-developed areas adding that the programme will start by December this year.

About the accountability process, Javed Jabbar said that under a very complex situation of sophisticated crime, many a big fish had been netted and the parameters had been clearly defined and a direction had been set for the future government.

On the economic front, Javed Jabbar said the recession had been arrested and the 'gloom and the doom' had been converted into brightness which could be gauged from the credit rating and record business in the stock market.

He said the government believed in freedom of press which was quite evident from what was being published in the newspapers adding that he knew the problems of regional press.

He said even in the most developed countries, the states and the governments were obliged to formulate a regulatory framework for the press in case the intervention became inevitable.

He referred to the United States, which had enacted a regulatory law for the press, which was set aside by the Supreme Court.

He said even after 230 years a country like the US had yet to define the limitations for the press.

He said on the contrary Pakistan could take pride that the chief executive had publicly announced allowing private TV channels and added that in due course of time, private sector would be free to set up its own radio and TV stations.

Referring to the tragic incident of bomb blast in Hyderabad on Sunday, he offered heart-felt condolences of the chief executive to the bereaved families.

He stressed the need for improved security arrangements in trains, at bus stands and important public places.

He said the security at our airports had been acknowledged world over.

He said that the government had launched a massive campaign on T.V. and radio to educate the general public against terrorism. He pointed out that RAW could never succeed in sabotage activities without the involvement of 'PAW' (local people) and stressed the need of identifying these enemies of state and the people.

He said India was doing every thing possible to get Pakistan declared a terrorist state notwithstanding the fact that Pakistan was in fact a victim of Indian-state terrorism.

Answering a question about inadequate representation of Sindhis at the federal and provincial level and in bureaucracy and NSC, the adviser to the chief executive was shocked to hear this question.

He posed a counter question as to who was he if not a Sindhi. "Have I come from Mars" Jabbar asked.

He however, undertook to bring this to the notice of the chief executive.

He said the federal government for the first time in 52 years had directed that the provinces should be given representation on the Railways Board as well as the National Highway Authority.

He claimed that the present government had already given a 'time frame' and added that the first phase of election (local councils) will be completed this year.

Answering a question about the influx of people from other provinces into Sindh, Javed Jabbar acknowledged this fact but added that freedom of movement was right of the people acknowledged at international level.

He said some people even believed that when capital could be moved from one country to the other just by pushing a button why should the people be restricted to their own countries.

Answering a question about the publication of obscene material, the adviser assured that the Information Ministry will be asked to prepare a list of such newspapers by February 11, which will be forwarded to the APNS and CPNE by February 15.