09 December 2004	Thursday	26 Shawwal 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Ministers and secretaries in Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's cabinet face the prospect of being fined or even sacked if they fail to achieve the targets set for them.

The process of monitoring performances of ministers and secretaries has already begun.

This was stated by the information secretary of Pakistan Muslim League, Tariq Azeem Khan, who is also the Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis, while responding to questions on Wednesday at a briefing about the performance of the government in its first 100 days.

Answering a question, Mr Azim brushed aside any conspiracy theory behind the continuous lack of quorum, particularly in the lower house, and denied it was an attempt to undermine the Shaukat Aziz government.

He said it was the opposition that was creating the quorum issue by withdrawing its members from the house. The minister said the 6.4 per cent GDP growth, the huge foreign exchange reserves, price stabilization, wheat and fertilizer imports, approval of 41 projects worth Rs203 billion, enhanced investments, exploration of more markets for Pakistani goods and creating a new image of Pakistan abroad were achievements of the Aziz government.