MARDAN, June 16: With the support of the masses, the PPP-led government would foil all conspiracies being hatched against the democratic dispensation in the country, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Saturday.

Addressing a public meeting here, the prime minister said his party had rendered great sacrifices for the restoration of democracy in the country. “That’s why we will not let anyone derail democracy,” he remarked.

Mr Gilani said that several conspiracies had been hatched against the PPP since the party came into power in 2008. However, all of them were foiled with the help of the people.

Some politicians had accused the PPP of disrespecting national institutions, he said. “But the fact remains that it was only the PPP which was fighting for strengthening these institutions when important people were fleeing to Saudi Arabia.”

The PPP-led coalition gave the people of the province known formerly as the NWFP their identity, by renaming it as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said the prime minister.

He praised the people of Mardan for providing food and shelter to the people displaced by conflicts in Swat and Buner districts.

Earlier, Mr Gilani inaugurated several development schemes, including two for supply of natural gas and one road project.

APP adds: Speaking at the passing-out ceremony for the participants of the 39th Common Training Programme at the Civil Services Academy in Lahore, the prime minister said his government had largely been successful in forging a culture of political harmony and accommodation.

“Our mission for achieving consensus on all issues of national interest will continue despite differences, which are normal for a democratic dispensation,” he remarked.

He said that despite a global recession, two devastating floods and other challenges faced by the country, the PPP-led government made remarkable progress on several fronts.

“The federation has been strengthened by restoration of the 1973 Constitution.

“The adoption of the 18th, 19th and 20th constitutional amendments has brought parliamentary democracy back. And the provinces have been empowered in the real sense through greater provincial autonomy and devolution of powers to them.”

Mr Gilani said his government was aware of the aspirations of the people of southern Punjab and was committed to their cause. “We are working on ways and means to turn the people’s demand into reality.”

Terming his government’s energy policy a failure would be a grave mistake, he claimed. “So far, we have added 3,400MW electricity to the national grid. The present government initiated a number of projects on short-, medium- and long-term basis. “These include Thar coal project, Diamer-Bhasha, Dasu, Bunji and Munda dams, Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project and Tarbela extension project.

“We are pursuing the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, CASA-100 and TAPI gas pipeline projects as well,” he said.

The prime minister said that upon completion of the projects Pakistan would not only be self-sufficient in energy resources but would also be in a position to export electricity.

On the occasion, Mr Gilani also announced plans to build a new auditorium at the academy.