December 29, 2002	Sunday	Shawwal 24, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Saturday announced the setting up of two committees on relief packages for common man and the farming community.

The committee on relief package to the common man would comprise the minister for food and agriculture and the prime minister’s adviser on finance. The other committee would have federal ministers for agriculture, industries, commerce, and labour and manpower, and prime minister’s adviser on finance.

The matter was discussed at a meeting of the cabinet presided over by the prime minister.

Briefing newsmen, a government spokesman said the committee for the farming community would consider proposals for reducing the mark-up rate of loans by the Agriculture Development Bank.

The prime minister’s adviser on finance informed the meeting that the volume of the loan for farmers was being enhanced while slashing of mark-up on agriculture loans was being considered.

The prime minister directed the cabinet that steps be taken to maintain the healthy tempo and upward trend registered by the Karachi Stock Exchange, which, he said, reflected that the economy was picking up.

On the government’s performance during the last 30 days, the prime minister said: “We are a well-knit team, moving steadily, but surely, towards the goal of promoting the interests of Pakistan”.

He said that as a united and disciplined team the cabinet would continue to serve the nation with determination and honesty “and, with utmost sense of commitment”.

The prime minister said the government consisted of honest and clean people that would ensure peace, progress and harmony in the country.

The by-elections set for Jan 15 in different National Assembly constituencies came up for discussion and the prime minister advised all cabinet colleagues to visit these constituencies “and launch a joint campaign”.

He said they would undertake the campaign collectively and added that “all the ministers irrespective of their party affiliations must visit all the constituencies where by-elections are to be held”.

TRUST VOTE: Referring to the special session of the National Assembly scheduled for Dec 30, Mr Jamali expressed the confidence that he would win vote of confidence.

The cabinet reposed confidence in the leadership of Mr Jamali.

The prime minister held out the assurance that the process for the vote of confidence would be fair and cordial, and would be conducted freely and the government would not indulge in any unfair means.

He said efforts would be made to seek help of everyone, as he believed in “reciprocity, dignity and honour”. He said he held all in high esteem and expected the same gesture from opponents.

The prime minister said that all the components of the coalition were united and “we are single and solid team”.

He said that expansion in the support of any segment of the coalition ultimately resulted in the enhancement of the government’s collective strength.—APP