July 22, 2008	Tuesday	Rajab 18, 1429

RAWALPINDI, July 21: Coalition partners are scheduled to meet Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday to sort out differences among them and to chalk out the future line of action to address the challenges being faced by the country.

This was stated by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman on Monday while giving away a cheque for Rs20.2 million to Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club President Mushtaq Minhas for the National Press Club project.

The minister expressed the resolve of the government that no one would be allowed to challenge the sovereignty of the country and the writ of the government, and that the militants would be dealt with iron hands.

“Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led government has not encouraged Talibanisation in and around the country and it is working to eliminate the menace of terrorism,” she said.

“Though we believe in dialogue as it is the right solution to get rid of terrorism and we are trying to establish peace in the country, the government will not tolerate those who will challenge the government.”

According to her, the government was facing many challenges, which it would meet with the help of coalition partners. Hundred days were not enough to put the things in order as the government inherited a lot of problems, she said.

Ms Rehman said the prices of fuel and food items were increasing due to international phenomena and because 75 per cent of products were imported into the country.

She said the government was paying Rs50 per litre subsidy on fuel to provide relief to the masses.

The minister said the former government had exported wheat while there was shortage of the staple in the country. The government is trying to tackle the wheat crisis on war footing and it started importing wheat when the government was formed, she added.

“Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had launched many projects to improve the availability of electricity in the country during her two tenures, but the former government had not invested a single penny in energy sector and the result was the suffering of people in the form of loadshedding.”

She said the government believed in press freedom and was working to introduce changes in media related laws to ensure freedom of information with the consultation of all stakeholders, including citizens, NGOs and representatives of journalists.

Soon after coming to power the present government removed the black laws. The government is also preparing to present a bill in the National Assembly to abolish the Press and Publication Ordinance, which was promulgated on November 3, 2007, she added.