November 10, 2008	Monday	Ziqa'ad 11, 1429

KARACHI, Nov 9: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali has said that the Pakistan People’s Party is pursuing a policy of reconciliation and cooperation at the national, provincial and even at the lowest levels as this is the only way through which the democratic system and democratic institution can be strengthened.

He dispelled the impression that there was any threat to the PPP government because of the non-inclusion of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in the second expansion of the federal cabinet, saying that the MQM had extended support to the government without any condition to help steer the country out of its difficult phase and for strengthening democracy.

However, since President Asif Ali Zardari had been pursuing a policy of taking all political parties in the assemblies on board, the MQM nominees would soon be made part of the federal cabinet.

He said the local government system needed amendment as it had not only confused people but was a source of confusion among the authorities also. Contrary to the claims made by the previous government, the system had failed to deliver as people had to run from pillar to post to get relief.

The chief minister, who was responding to various questions during an informal talk with this reporter, said the PPP wanted to bring the devolution system in line with the 1973 constitution so that it could deliver to the people at their doors.

In this connection he recalled that during 1996 the Benazir Bhutto government had set up a task force to introduce a homegrown local bodies system which could help people to get their problem solved.

“A task force headed by Mr Kamal Azfar had drafted a bill for the local bodies system in accordance with the spirit of the 1973 constitution,” Mr Shah said, adding that the PPP was a democratic party and as such would never like to take any decision without taking its coalition partners into confidence. In this connection, he said, “Our consultations are on with the coalition partner MQM to effect necessary amendments to the local government system.”

The chief minister said the top priority of the government was to provide relief to the people and improve their socio-economic conditions. He said the government was aware of the unemployment problem, which was an outcome of a massive backlog of problems from the previous regime. However, the PPP government had initiated different projects which would generate thousands of jobs for unemployed youths.

Answering a question, he said the PPP government was striving to fulfil its party manifesto of “Roti, kapra aur makan”. In this connection, he said, the government had already launched many programmes for providing funds to unemployed youths through generating employment opportunities.

Besides, another programme to distribute government land among peasants, preferably to landless women, was being launched on Nov 25 in Thatta. Under the scheme every peasant family would be given 25 acres.

Regarding construction of low-cost houses, Mr Shah said 60 sites had been selected in the province to be developed for the construction of 500,000 low-cost housing units on a public-private partnership basis.