18 August 2004	Wednesday	01 Rajab 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 17: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday urged the parliamentarians not to sacrifice good governance for the sake of personal gains and called upon them to selflessly serve the people.

Speaking to Pakistan Muslim League parliamentarians who had called on him at his camp office in Rawalpindi, the president said: "You are representing 150 million people; it is therefore important that you rise above personal interests to uphold this unique honour the people have bestowed upon you and fulfil the pledge made to them for a prosperous Pakistan".

Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz, PML secretary-general Mushahid Hussain Syed, federal ministers, parliamentary secretaries and chairmen of house standing committees were also present.

The president also took the parliamentarians into confidence on his choice of Shaukat Aziz as prime minister and assured them that development activities in their respective constituencies would be further enhanced.

He said: "The ills of nepotism and corruption had weakened the democratic institutions in the past and severely damaged every fabric of the society." The president asked the parliamentarians to harmonize good governance with politics to ensure the wellbeing and prosperity of the people. He underlined the need for introducing a new political culture of tolerance and accommodation.

He observed that all parliamentarians should participate in development activities, particularly at the grassroots level. He emphasised that the development schemes should be completed on schedule and funds allocated should be used judiciously.

Gen Musharraf asked the parliamentarians to ensure that the benefits of economic growth and stability were passed on to the common man. He claimed that as a result of the efforts of the past four years, the country's economy had achieved stability and it would produce at least one million job opportunities in various sectors such as IT, telecommunication, construction and engineering.

He said Pakistan's economy being agro-based, steps were being taken to boost the agriculture sector. Besides, he said, mega water projects were being launched to provide necessary impetus to this sector and added that at least 18 mega infrastructure projects should be completed within three years.

He said a project of Rs55 billion would soon be launched for the brick-lining of irrigation system which would lead to the saving of water and also generate jobs for the poor in rural areas.

Chaudhry Shujaat said on the occasion that the parliamentarians were fully conscious of their commitment to the people. According to insiders, the parliamentarians were also briefed on arrangements for Wednesday's by-polls and instructed to visit the constituency in groups and in private cars.

The meeting decided to ask a delegation of ruling MPs, now on a visit of China, to return home by Aug 21 and 22 to ensure their participation in the process of ascertainment of the new prime minister.