KARACHI, April 22: Reiterating his party’s determination to pursue the policy of reconciliation, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Friday that realignments were part of politics.

Talking to reporters after opening the expanded and renovated Accidents and Emergency department of the Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical Center, he said dialogue with the PML-Q was continuing and the outcome would be known soon.

He told a questioner that the MQM was a coalition partner in Sindh and its decision to join the federal government should not be a surprise.

He said the nation was united in dealing with extremist forces and lauded the sacrifices rendered by the armed forces and people.

About the grievances of the Baloch people, Mr Gilani said withdrawal of army and deployment of Frontier Corps was a demand of the Baloch people and the government had met the demand. He said the FC would be under the chief minister.

He stressed the need for improving law and order and reiterated his support for creating a Seraiki province.

Addressing the opening ceremony, he said the financial hub of the country had witnessed recurring incidents of terrorism and bomb blasts and lauded the hospital and its staff for responding to the challenge of looking after the injured.

He said the health had traditionally been a neglected sector and did not receive adequate attention.

The systematic flaw in the mixed health infrastructure resulted in wastage of resources and duplication of work.

The prime minister said the abolition of Concurrent List after the passage of the 18th Amendment and the historic adoption of the 7th National Finance Commission award had empowered the provinces politically, administratively and financially.

He said that health and education were now provincial subjects and it was now for the provinces to rise to the occasion and make the difference through innovative methods.

He said the provinces should focus on building their capacity for effective delivery of health services at the grassroots level. Mr Gilani announced a grant of Rs55 million for the JPMC for completing the immense project.

This institution, he said, had played a seminal role in training generations of doctors, nurses, medical teachers and consultants who were now serving in and outside the country.