960421

Domestic borrowing,

inflation rate down

in last 3 years, claims PM

RIZWAN UR REHMAN RAZI

LAHORE: Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has said that by reducing domestic borrowing, commercial rate loans, and inflation, the government has enabled Pakistan to become one of the 10 emerging markets of the world.

Addressing the ground-breaking ceremony of the 117 megawatt power generation project of Southern Electrical Power Company Limited near Raiwind on Sunday, the Prime Minister said another MoU has been translated into a concrete project which would help eliminate unemployment and bring more foreign investment in the country.

Benazir Bhutto claimed that inflation rate was down to 9 percent from the previous 13 percent while the annual growth rate has crossed the figure of 6 percent.

She castigated those elements who have been terming the MoUs signed in the energy sector as nothing but mere papers saying that as many as nine projects of power generation had already achieved financial close which would amount to US$ 500 million foreign investment in the country.

Referring to the projects launched by her government Benazir Bhutto mentioned expansion in telecommunication facilities and physical infrastructure. She threw a challenge to her political reveals to point out any such project which they had launched during their regime.

She claimed that completion of the power projects will generate sufficient electricity for the present need and for millions of more power consumers.

The Prime Minister said that the people have rejected the regime which has damaged the culture of the country by introducing Kalashnikov, sectarianism and terrorism. This had also led to the promotion of anti-federation forces in the country. 'People have rejected this regime' said Benazir Bhutto.

She claimed that Pakistan was making progress on the foreign policy front and Kashmir cause has become alive again. People are willing to hear us whether in Beijing, Cairo, or Geneva and aloofness of the country was no more, she said.

Benazir Bhutto further claimed that her party was getting more and more popular which displayed the confidence of the masses in her economic policies.

She said only the Indian government was opposing the acts of the government and the Indian Prime Minister had gone to the extent of using undiplomatic and abusive language against her. 'I am Bhutto's daughter and will never compromise on the country's interests, she pledged.

The Prime Minister alleged that India was training terrorists to sabotage peace in Sindh, and was opposing the Brown Amendment which has brought a relief to Pakistan.

Later, the Prime Minister performed the ground-breaking ceremony of the project of worth US $ 120 million.

She was accompanied by Punjab Governor Raja Saroop Khan, Chief Minister Mohammed Arif Nakie, Senior Minister Malik Mushtaq Awan, and Federal Minister for Water and Power Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar.

APP adds: The Prime Minister said that her government has lifted the pall of loadshedding and the special doses of energy have given a fresh lease of life to factories, to tubewells and caused agriculture growth to rise. "Pakistan's dark ages are over", she said, "and a journey of lights has begun".

Bhutto said, "our workers couldn't be bought and preferred to offer sacrifice, they stood firm in support of their sister". The relationship between the PPP and the people is true and complete. "Our investment is in workers, not factories", she said.

PPP, she said, is not merely a political party, it stands for the aspirations of people, it is a beacon of light promising bright future, a modern state, a symbol of national progress and a sign of respect for mothers and daughters.

Speaking about the achievements of people's government, Benazir Bhutto said that digital pager, cellular phone, satellite programmes, FM radio have come to the people during her government.

About huge projects, she said Indus Highway, Ghazi-Barotha Hydro Project, Mass Transit System, Heavy Electrical Complex are coming up in her tenure. The airports at Pakpattan Sharif and Sehwan Sharif are also her projects.

She went on to compare them with the heritage of previous governments. Siachen was given away to India and cricket matches were witnessed with Indian Prime Minister.

Benazir Bhutto said she was the true follower of Quaid-i-Azam and was working in his footsteps to convert Pakistan into a modern state in accordance with his aspirations. "We are holding the national flag, the symbol of unity. We'll strengthen the country and that is everyone's ambition".

Earlier, Ali Mahmood, President of Southern Electric Power Company Limited gave the details of the project. A representative of Canadian firm, British Columbia Hydro, Robert Deleevw, spoke on the company's technical knowhow in energy generation.