ISLAMABAD, Aug 20: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has said that major political and economic reforms undertaken by his government will be fully protected through new legislation.

According to official sources, he told Mr Paul Chabrier, Advisor to the IMF Managing Director, who called on him Tuesday, that he would make sure that there was a continuity of reforms even after the new elected government took over as a result of October polls.

The president said that a package of necessary constitutional amendments had been finalized which he would unveil on Wednesday at a news conference.

The sources said the president was categorical in saying that no future government will be allowed to undo the reforms introduced by him and that these will stay unaffected beyond October this year.

He said that his government had taken bold and unpopular decisions in order to put the economy back on track and that he himself would ensure the continuity of reforms.

The president, according to an official announcement, informed Mr Chabrier that Pakistan’s economy had started showing signs of a turn-round and the country had acquired high credibility for its reforms programme.

The broad-based and bold structural reforms programme covers tax revenues, trade & tariff, financial sector, deregulation, privatization and devolution of power.

He expressed his resolve to continue with the reforms regime for the betterment of economic conditions and for poverty alleviation. He stressed the importance of a sustainable democracy, with the elected government completing its full tenure in office.

Mr Chabrier appreciated the measures taken by the government over the last three years to put the economy back on rails. He said that it was remarkable.