KARACHI, Oct 1: A team of several federal ministers, ministers of state and government advisers, governor of State Bank with the help of a few representatives of the private sector are preparing an Action Plan for the government to accelerate the pace of trickle-down effect of what is being claimed the "economic gains made in last five years after military take over in Pakistan".

The team is led by Prime Minister's Advisor on Finance Dr Salman Shah, which is focussing primarily on five main areas. These areas are (i) employment generation, (ii) price stability, (iii) government service delivery to people, (iv) security and political stability and (v) fair and quick justice system and rule of law.

"The idea of this plan is to translate economic stability into economic prosperity for the people," Dr Ashfaq, a senior adviser in the Federal Finance Ministry and a member of the team informed Dawn by telephone from Islamabad.

He said the report of the committee will constitute the core part of Prime Minister's first address to the nation through electronic media. Now that Dr Salman Shah and the State Bank governor are away in Washington on an official assignment, the preparation of the proposed Action Plan has been apparently delayed and so is the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's scheduled address to the nation.

Officials in Islamabad are not ready to give a firm dateline for the finalization of the Action Plan but hint at the possibility of Prime Minister first formal address to the Nation on advent of Ramazan that is sometimes in the middle of this month.

The Prime Minister is reported to be meeting with his cabinet colleagues almost every day to discuss with them the 100 days work target they plan to set for themselves. There is a remote possibility that the review of these targets for a few ministries may find some place in Prime Minister's speech.

But public opinion leaders and businessmen in Karachi wonder as to what could be the possible crash programme for the generation of employment, achieve price stability, ensure good governance and give a fair and quick justice system that Prime Minister can promise to his people in next two to three years.

Unemployment, poverty and the recent price spiral, more particularly the food inflation have remained sore points for the government which the media and critics continue to prick much to the chagrin of the government functionaries.

At a meeting early last month, the State Bank governor expressed his anger on the observations being made by those "who have superficial knowledge and information on the national economy in print and electronic media."

"We have managed to persuade government to keep the prices of petroleum products unchanged," one of the recently elected leaders of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry claimed. He preferred to remain anonymous and said that credit goes to the Karachi Chamber leadership for keeping fuel prices at May 1, 2004 level.

But for this, the government has taken upon itself the hit of Rs47 billion expected generation from the development surcharge on petroleum and would be exploring adjustment strategy by cutting down on its expenses or alternative revenue sources. Businessmen and leaders of public opinion believe that the agenda set for the government team of ministers is very formidable.

"Only a comprehensive political, social and economic manifesto of a political party can address the five issues and explore possibilities of finding a solution," a politician and retired bureaucrat in Karachi said. Public opinion leaders are convinced that the ministers with hardly two or three years term at their disposal are in no position to tackle these issues.

How serious is the employment problem in Pakistan can be best understood by the planes load deportation every other day from the Middle Eastern countries to Pakistan. The recent off loading of about 100 young men from a Central Asian bound aircraft at Karachi is another evidence of desperation of the job seekers.

The British High Commissioner in Pakistan is reported to have given names of many senior officials and influential Pakistanis to the Government who are actively involved in human smuggling and exploiting human misery. The Former Prime Minister Ch Shujat is reported to have sacked his private secretary on charges of being involved in human smuggling.

For last more than a year, the federal and provincial governments have not been able to tackle effectively the supply and prices of wheat for the people. Same is true for many other agricultural and industrial products.

How Shaukat Aziz administration can transform the agricultural marketing system by ensuring a fair return to the growers and ensure a steady supply on reasonable prices to the consumers by eliminating commission agents and brokers will be watched with interest.