Mian Nawaz Sharif Address to the Nation
The soul aim of this blog is to bring forth the archives that are covered under the thick dust of time. This time we are presenting an old speech of Mian Nawaz Sharif. This speech was delivered on June 11, 1997. This speech is worth reading as it depicts the seriousness of the administrative challenges posed by PPP govt. This speech also reflects a lot about the rescue of sinking economic ship of Pakistan back in 1996. Before the complete speech i must quote that the undermentioned lines are reported in local newspaper THE NATION dated June 12, 1997.
Summary of Speech:
- Upholding the self determination to the Kashmiri people
- Aversion of a total economic collapse, which the government inherited.
- Culture of permits has been abolished
- Pakistanis and their children holding dual nationality and settled abroad are no longer required to obtain visa for Pakistan or any other permit for travel.
- Revival of Green Channel
- Ban on government functionaries and their children from going abroad for medical treatment at state expense.
- The import of duty free cars by the President, Prime Minister, Governors, Chief Ministers and other high officials has been banned.
- Wheat will be supplied to the floor mills @ Rs 6.5/kg
- Decision for setting up Ehtesab Committees
Reported Text of the Speech:
"The dark days of uncertainty are over and only a mist remains now which will take some time to be cleared," he assured the nation in his address on television and radio.
The address covered the progress of his govt. was able to achieve on economic, law and order situation and anti-corruption front. A specific reference was also made to relations with India.
"Talks with India will be productive only if she concedes right of self determination to the Kashmiri people," he said.
The PM said that Pakistan's stand on Kashmir was based on principles and talks between the two countries could not make head way unless India realized the rights of Kashmiri people.
He said one should learn from the futile wars and tense relations Pakistan and India had during the past 50 years.
"I put forth this point before the Indian PM when i met him and he agreed to resolve issues through negotiations" he said, "I asked the Indian PM to withdraw forces and stop atrocities in Occupied Kashmir."
He expressed his confidence in the capabilities of the armed forces and determination of the people.
He said a total economic collapse, which the government inherited had been averted. "The severity of economic crises is receding and productivity in picking up after the new tax structure given by the government," he added.
He said the foreign exchange reserves had fallen to Rs 14 Billion during Benazir's govt. Now the reserves stand at Rs. 45 bilion after government's measures to revive economy, he added.
Blaming Benazir government for taking the country to bankruptcy and default he said if "Benazir government was given a few months more, the country would have defaulted creating difficulties in making transactions with foreign countries."
He said all govt. institutions were facing crisis like situation and the external and internal debt was out of country's reach." As an immediate step we have stopped the plunder of public wealth and institutions and no one could any longer place Pakistan as a second most corrupt country in the world," he said.
He said the people who had embezzled public wealth were creating doubts about the accountability process initiated by the government."They believed that they had not left any trace of corruption but i must appreciate the accountability cell for doing a commendable job of gathering proofs of corruption," Sharif said.
APP adds; The Prime Minister said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Wednesday said that "The severity of economic crisis is receding" and the government's steps have rescued the economy from a total collapse.
He said 'corruption culture' had made employees reluctant to even fulfill their responsibilities rather to work selflessly is considered against one's ego. The same ways of doing things are still prevalent and the 'office system' reminded one of the stone age. "In fact, the very spirit to solve the common man's problems has vanished as the people have to grease palms to preserve their genuine rights. The ills are so many that these cannot be counted".
The prime Minister said, the culture of permits has been abolished and now the prime minister or the chief ministers cannot dole out permits for plots as leverage for political gain.
"Pakistanis and their children holding dual nationality and settled abroad are no longer required to obtain visa for Pakistan or any other permit for travel."
Green Channel, he said has once again been opened and Pakistanis returning home are now getting the same dignity and respect they enjoyed during PML's last tenure.
"The government functionaries and their children have been stopped from going abroad for medical treatment at state expense. They will be getting treatment where an ordinary citizen of this country goes."
He said, the import of duty free cars by the President, Prime Minister, Governors, Chief Ministers and other high officials has been banned. Similarly the Government has stopped other extra benefits to the high officials and will end the VIP culture.
"New policy has been formulated for the recovery of billion of rupees of stuck up loans. This policy is so successful that those who had refused to pay back their debts are now negotiating with the banks for its return."
"I have been pained to see the poor people waiting in long queues to buy atta(flour). But, we are not responsible for these miseries," said Nawaz Sharif. Benazir Government, he said adopted policies which resulted in low production of wheat. They increased the prices of agriculture machinery, fertilizer, electricity, gas and diesel without any rationale.
"PPP Ministers stole the wheat from godowns and smuggled it to abroad to pocket millions of rupees. The government has recovered rs 18.5 million from a former Minister who had sold the stolen wheat."
"The shortage of wheat was already there before PML took over power. The local harvest could not reach the market before two month while there was no arrangement for importing the commodity from other countries. However the Government still tried its best and did whatever it could possibly do for supply of atta in the market." But, he regretted the people had to face the hardships because of the shortage. he commended the patience shown by the people in this hour of difficulty.
The Government, he said, had to spend Rs 30 billion on import of wheat which meant hard-earned money had to be paid to farmers in other countries. "Don't our won farmers deserve it ?", he asked. Pakistani farmer was getting lower prices of their wheat as compared to that which was being imported.
The farmers, as a result, were reluctant to grow wheat. Had the government not increased the price, the local production would have reduced drastically and the country would have been left with no foreign exchange for import of wheat.
He said during the next year the govt would import four million tons of wheat and improve its distribution system. Wheat will be supplied to the floor mills @ Rs 6.5/kg and its proper supervision would help check the atta prices.
"The govt. plans to seek help of the army to control smuggling."
"A proper procedure would be adopted for supply of wheat to Afghanistan." he said.
The atta price has registered as increase but it was essential so that the country was not dependent for its bread. With a gradual improvement of the economic situation, purchasing power of the consumers would increase which would enable then to face the price hike.
Nawaz Sharif said the Government has decided to issue atta coupons' to assist the poor who cannot afford to purchase atta at higher prices. These coupons would be made available to people within next few days which would enable them to meet their requirements.
The measures taken by the govt. in agriculture sector would produce result. He said the country would one day not only save foreign exchange by exporting the agriculture goods but it would also bring prosparity in the rural areas and urban centres.
The common man should have his legal cases settled at district level instead of going to Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad to pursue his cases in higher courts.
Nawaz Sharif said the government will announce a comprehensive program for providing employment to youth as was promised in PMLN manifesto.
The work on Islamabad to Lahore motorway project will be completed this year while the work on Islamabad-Peshawar section will commence soon. Many small roads will be laid as a result of this mega project which will generate employment for thousand of people.
Nawaz Sharif was pained to observe the absence of justice and said he had decided to set up Ehtesab Committees to lessen the woes of the poor. These committees, he said, were being constituted to root out corruption and lawlessness at all levels and to ensure that thereafter no villager or an urbanite was insulted. All and sundry should live a respectable and dignified life, he added.
The Prime Minister said he would administer oath to the members of the committees in front of the entire nation in which they would pledge to work with honesty and selflessly. They would vow not to harm or harass anyone or to misuse their powers.
Nawaz Sharif said the only objective of the accountability committees would be to check wastage of national wealth and have an eye on the misuse of powers by those who possess it. These committees would do whatever possible to help the poor, aggrieved and those in need to save them from tyranny and injustices.
The Prime Minister said the day these committees succeeded in controlling malpractice in govt's expenses, ensure reverence of the poor in police stations, "Patwar Khana", and when no orphan would see helplessly the killers of this father marauding, that day would be a step forward towards improvement.
These committees, he said are of vital significance for the government and he wants to see this experiment a success. Whosoever indulged in laxity or did not measure up to the expectations of the people, would not be spread, said Nawaz Sahrif. Such people would lose their membership.
The Prime Minister said he took power at such a time when Pakistan was known in the world for its corruption and bad governance. Pakistan was listed for rampant corruption.
"The country was at the brink of insolvency if the Bhutto government had lasted for a few more weeks. This scenario would have created serious difficulties in dealing with the rest of the world. Only God knows what hardships Pakistan had to face."
He said at present the internal and foreign loans have accumulated to unmanageable limits. In all the sectors, the deficit is overwhelming. The looters have fled abroad and the heavy responsibilities have been left on my shoulders, he added. "Those who were recruited in the government departments after receiving hefty bribes have nothing to to do but they are getting their pays and privileges. Is this entire situation is seen as human issue, the question of employment of these employees comes forth. But the state of economy has tied our hands."
The Prime Minister said according to the details the three years of the PPP government are simply nightmarish. It was the sheer bad luck of the nation that its rulers had the sole business of plundering the national wealth. They had neither the brains not sympathetic hearts. The rulers were busy day and night in looting the national wealth. They used their gift of gab to hoodwink the people and hide their wrongdoings, he added.
"The plunderers are now off the scene but they are still using their sharp tongues. Perhaps, they cannot tolerate present govt's honesty and adherence to the principles of justice. by criticizing the process of accountability, the past rulers want to show the people that the government had failed to come out with proofs against their misdeeds."
Nawaz Sharif said, in fact, they plundered the nation with such an expertise that they were nearly successful to leave no clue behind, like the professional thieves However despite all these difficulties, wee have got the proofs of their loot. the performance of the Ehtesab Cell is worth praising in this regard, he added.
The Prime Minister said he is fully aware of their feelings against the former rulers who pocketed the national wealth. the people want that the robbers should be made to deposit the looted money without further delay. he has the same feelings, he added.
"I also want to wrest even the last penny of the national wealth from the plunderers I wish to curb price hike in the short time. It is my dream that people should enjoy their lives with their families free of fear and in atmosphere of security and satisfaction."
He said it is his strong wish that the aggrieved should get justice quickly and the oppressor should be punished without nay delay. The rapist would be tried before the echoes of a victim woman's cries, die in the fathomless expanse of space, he added.
"But to book the criminals the demands of justice have to be taken in to consideration also. However, the legal compulsions are not sacred than the lives of the people. A law becomes meaningless, when the citizens are facing terrorism, rapes and robberies. The elimination of all such fears are the duty of the government."
"I want to give my people a life full of joys, prosperity and safety. I had enacted laws to curb oppression from the society. But the Chief Justice of Pakistan assured me that the judiciary can fulfill the demands of justice with the existing legal and judicial system."
He said he has asked the chief justice of Pakistan and the Chief Justices of high Courts to speed up the process of justice. The cases are disposed of not before the death of the plaintiff when the justice is delayed, the aggrieved take the law into their hands which resultantly increases crimes rate. The quick disposal of cases would resolve many problems of the people, he added.
"My sole objective is the quick provision of justice to the people. I will be the most happy person when some one gets justice within days. I am interested in results. It satisfies me the most if existing legal and judicial system fulfills the demands of justice by punishing the criminals."
He said the performance of the investigative agencies and the police is not up to the mark. There are honest and dutiful police officers in these departments but the personnel of these departments have to prepare themselves to answer the current challenges. They have to inculcate a missionary spirit among themselves, he added.
The Prime Minister questioned whether a corrupt person can administer justice. How a government can uproot corruption when it is accepted by a society.
"How a government can uphold the moral values single-handedly. The elimination of the evil is not the sole responsibility of the government. It is equally shared by the citizens of a country."
In a society of ours, he said the rights of orphans, widows, and women are trampled. The workers, farmers and the weak are exploited and the respect to human relations is scant.
The Prime minister quoted a letter which was written to him from a London based Pakistani girl.
The letter exposed, he added, the black face of ur society in such a way that it harrowed his heart and soul.
In the letter, the girl, briefly, wrote the episode of the murder of her father last year when their family visited Pakistan. Her father was severely injured by five assailants who pumped four bullets in his body. He was rushed to a nearest hospital at Mandara where the doctor on duty refused to extend first aid, terming it a police case. this incident has amply exposed the respect given to a human life in Pakistan, he added.
The girl further wrote that her bleeding father was taken to the respective police station where the policemen insisting on lodging FIR first, completely ignoring the pains of an injured person who was struggling for life. Her father was then taken to a hospital in Rawalpindi but breathed his last without receiving the medical aid.
The girl wrote that this incident has exposed the inhuman attitude of a messiah who passed the buck to the heartless police, completely ignoring his obligations.
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