ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Wednesday that the government was ready to face no-confidence motion being moved by opposition against him. Talking to reporters here after inaugurating a pilot project for ethanol-based gasoline, the prime minister said: “The opposition should move fast on the vote of no-confidence as the government is ready to face it with determination.”

Mr Aziz said: “The opposition has lack of vision and wasting its time on non-issues like vote of no confidence.”

Replying to a question, he said federal ministers were effectively defending the government in parliament, especially in the discussion on the privatisation of the Pakistan Steel Mills.

Commenting on the judgment of the Supreme Court on privatisation of the steel mills, he said the government respected the apex court. He said the privatisation policy would continue and it would be improved.

About the brief discussion on the privatisation of steel mills in the CCI, he said: “The issue was discussed for over 90 minutes before taking a final decision.”

He, however, said the CCI had already given the approval for the privatisation of the steel mills in 1997 and the government took it again to the CCI in line with the judgment of the Supreme Court.—APP