Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has emphasized the need for fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect and political reconciliation by embracing the vision of great leaders including Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
Addressing the joint sitting of the Parliament in Islamabad today, he expressed the confidence this will also help to effectively tackle all the challenges which are not impossible to overcome.
Chaired by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the joint sitting was attended by members of the National Assembly and Senate while in the galleries were provincial chief ministers and parliamentarians, diplomats, and representatives from political parties.
The president’s address was in pursuance of Article 56 (3) of the Constitution which marked the beginning of the first parliamentary year, following the general elections.
The President emphasized meaningful dialogues, parliamentary consensus and time-bound implementation of rigorous reforms to take the country forward.
Sharing his vision for future, President Asif Ali Zardari urged the political leadership to prioritize the specific needs of marginalized community and under develop areas, underscoring the need to move forward on the path of inclusive growth.
The President said Pakistan needs to revitalize its economy. He said our primary objective should be to attract foreign direct investment.
He urged the government intensified its efforts in implementation comprehensive ease of doing business reforms and simplifying regulations to provide an enabling environment to both domestic and foreign investors.
He commended the establishment of Special Investment Facilitation Council to attract investment in key sectors of the economy, describing it as a step in the right direction.
He said having given away his powers to the parliament, his role was as a unifying symbol of a joint, robust federation, where all people and provinces should be treated as equal before the law.
As a new beginning, he said the country needed to build its strengths by investing in people, focusing on public needs, and harnessing its resources to create pathways to inclusive growth.
“We have little time to waste. The country needs us to move on from the polarization so common now to contemporary politics,” he remarked and sought joint House’s role in rebuilding public confidence in the parliamentary process.
Calling for resetting the political atmosphere and reflect “more light than heat”, he emphasised reforms, to promote good governance and turning challenges into opportunities.
