March 12, 2003	Wednesday	Muharram 8, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, March 11: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali appealed to the United Nations on Tuesday that more time should be given to peace so that the Iraqi crisis could be settled peacefully.

In his address to the nation on radio and TV, the prime minister announced that it would be difficult for Pakistan to support attack on Iraq. “We want betterment of the Iraqi people and our policy in this regard is very clear,” he said, adding that national interest would be kept supreme in dealing with the issue.

Mr Jamali said he had already taken into confidence Pakistan’s friends in the Middle East during his visit to the region. “The cabinet has taken a decision with consensus that we cannot support war on Iraq”.

The prime minister also invited India to hold dialogues with Pakistan in order to sort out all unresolved issues peacefully between the two countries.

He said he had earlier sent a message of goodwill to the Indian leadership and, “today once again I repeat the same so that complete peace could be restored for the progress and betterment of the people of South Asia”.

The prime minister said that Pakistan’s foreign policy was based on mutual understanding and international justice. “We want peace in the world and this is also a message to the Indian leadership that war phobia will not help resolve issues between our two nations.”

Mr Jamali said that his government’s policy was to hold talks with India so that people of both the countries should not suffer any more. “Let us talk and try to convince each other, otherwise we know how to defend ourselves,” the prime minister declared.

Talking about Afghanistan, he said that Pakistan did not believe in interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. He said Pakistan would not allow terrorism against any country and would continue to cooperate with international agencies to rebuild Afghanistan.

Giving salient features of his government’s foreign policy, Mr Jamali said Pakistan wanted to establish good relations with all the countries. He said Saudi Arabia was Pakistan’s greatest friend which always supported Pakistan.

China, he pointed out, was Pakistan’s trusted friend and that friendship between the two countries was exemplary. “We also have religious and cultural relations with Iran and I am sure our friendship will further strengthen in future”.

The prime minister said that relations between Pakistan and the United States had seen some renewed warmth recently which needed to be further strengthened. “Our efforts will be to have lasting relations with the US,” he said.

Mr Jamali said that Russia was Pakistan’s neighbour and as such was very important. “Pakistan-Russia relations have received a fresh impetus due to President Musharraf’s recent visit to Moscow”.

He said Pakistan enjoyed good relations with the Muslim Ummah and would continue to play an effective role at the OIC platform to forge better understanding among the Islamic countries.

Mr Jamali also announced initiation of various welfare schemes for the people and in this behalf said that “model towns” would be established throughout the country to provide cheap accommodation facility to the people. In the first phase, he said, these model towns would be constructed in far-flung areas where all facilities, including sewerage, education and clean water would be provided on priority.

The prime minister held out an assurance that the number of taxes would be reduced to provide relief to the business community. He said his government did not believe in imposing taxes. “We want to encourage investment for which such an environment will be created where people could pay their taxes without any hesitation.”

He said agriculture sector was the backbone of the country which needed full support of the government.

“My government has decided that there will be no more land reforms so that farmers could bring maximum area under cultivation without any fear,” he declared.

Mr Jamali said his government did not believe in victimisation and would not file false cases against political opponents.

The country today, he said, was facing lawlessness and terrorism where life and property of the common man was not safe. “But I assure you that my government will remove this lawlessness, terrorism and remove corruption from the society.”

He said the government would take all decisions on merit and rapid transfers of the government employees would be stopped.

The prime minister said people were facing numerous problems in seeking justice from courts. “I would request the chief justice of Supreme Court to expedite the cases which were being delayed for years.”

The prime minister said that a unified syllabus was being prepared by his government so that every Pakistani could get education without paying a lot of money.

He also said the government was trying to ensure availability of quality medicines on reduced prices. He said a committee had been set up to ensure availability of inexpensive drugs for people.

The prime minister said overseas Pakistanis also needed maximum facilities especially when returning home.

The prime minister ended his speech by saying that his government would serve people without any discrimination.

“Everyone will get justice and there will be no attack on places of worship,” he said, adding that his government would strive to create an atmosphere where both men and women would have equal opportunities.