HYDERABAD, April 26: Federal Minister for Information and Media Development Nisar Memon has said that had the previous government not been ousted on Oct 12, 1999, the country would have faced default.

He was speaking to a sizable gathering at Allah Wala Chowk, Hirabad, at midnight on Thursday. The meeting was organised by Taluka City Council (TCC) Hyderabad.

The country, he said, was on the verge of being declared a terrorist state as well, but it was not done due to statesmanship of President Musharraf. The previous governments were also not maintaining their accounts properly, but the government had credit to repay the loans.

The government, he informed the gathering, also tried to reduce its expenses and had been able to contain theft and corruption. Even worst detractors did not accuse the President of corruption or any wrongdoing, he added.

The minister said the present government was all set to promote information technology in every nook and corner of the country so that youths could get jobs easily.

Mr Memon pointed out that the country had attained a special status at international level, and everyone knew the attitude of President Clinton when he visited Pakistan for few hours. Now, he said, US George W.Bush held President Musharraf in high esteem.

He claimed that India had tried its level best to get Pakistan declared a terrorist state and even some of our citizens had also supported India. Pakistan army, he said, was the defenders of our frontiers and they were protecting the country in a standoff with India.

He said the President wanted to strengthen the country that was why a National Security Council was contemplated to avoid frequent change of governments. He assured Taluka City Council Nazim Haji Moinuddin Sheikh that he would use his good office for solving the problems of the city.

Mr Memon said he would also try his level best to talk to President Musharraf for establishing a college in the city, and promised to visit the city at least four times in the near future.

Nazim Sheikh drew the attention of federal minister towards the sewerage and drainage problems of the city, and added that the citizens were not able to get potable. He said that the city needed at least two filter plants.

He asked the minister to ensure that the deduction of Rs4.3 million should not be made from the council’s account, and added that his council was indebted to the tune of Rs140 million.