HYDERABAD, Oct 20: The federal minister for information and media development, Nisar Memon, has said that it was indeed a happy augury that the government of President Pervez Musharraf has completed its agenda of reforms and entered the final phase of transfer of power notwithstanding grave doubts from certain quarters to the contrary.

He was speaking at a meet-the-press programme organized by the press club on Sunday.

He said that the first political phase was completed when the government started functioning and although some teething trouble was faced initially the local bodies soon overcame the problems.

He said that during the second phase economic and constitutional reforms had been implemented and as per the May 12 decision of the Supreme Court the general election had also been held on schedule.

He claimed that when the government came into power the country was on the brink of economic disaster with only $600 million foreign exchange reserves in the kitty and it was also feared that Pakistan might be declared a terrorist state.

He said that due to the economic reforms and micro- and macro-management, foreign exchange reserves had increased to $4.3 billion and Pakistan had also been able to pay back some loans while the other loans had been rescheduled.

The minister claimed that due to “a robust economy” Pakistan was able to absorb the shock of Sept 11 and the deployment of Indian forces on its borders.

He said that the government did not place any curbs on the media and did not issue any press advices.

The minister claimed that both the print and electronic media had been given unprecedented freedom although in some cases the print media had gone too far.

He said it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that the government had granted radio and TV licences to private parties and constituted Boards for Radio, TV, and the APP.

He said that the APP had become a real national agency and was giving full coverage to all political parties.

He said that a country which was about to be declared a terrorist state had joined the international community against terrorism at great risk.