Pakistan Aims to Improve Relations with India, Appraises Cabinet on Progress

Strategic Insights -

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has expressed the government's commitment to improving relations with India, citing a major breakthrough in talks between him and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in Sharm El Sheikh. The Prime Minister briefed the Cabinet on the results of his meeting, highlighting the importance of dialogue in resolving outstanding issues between the two nations. The Cabinet applauded the efforts of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Ministry in promoting good neighborly relations with India, and approved the Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2009-12 and Trade Policy 2009-10.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pakistan is committed to improving relations with India, with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani describing the talks in Sharm El Sheikh as a major breakthrough.
  • The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of dialogue in resolving outstanding issues between the two nations, including the Kashmir dispute.
  • The Cabinet approved the Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2009-12 and Trade Policy 2009-10, aimed at promoting economic growth and export-led development.
  • The Prime Minister reported progress in addressing the electricity crisis, including the implementation of new IPPs and Rental Power Plants.
  • A committee of Ministers has been constituted to monitor the situation on a daily basis, and the Prime Minister appealed to the nation to bear with the present situation.
  • The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the nation's support in overcoming the electricity crisis and encouraged people to cooperate with the government's efforts.
  • The Prime Minister highlighted the government's commitment to poverty alleviation, employment generation, and export-led growth through the Trade Policy 2009-10.
  • Prime Minister Gilani expressed gratitude to the nation for its support in building a consensus view on the matter of improving relations with India.

Statistics:

  • 500,000 trees were planted in a single day by the Ministry of Environment, now recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.
  • The country is struggling with a severe electricity crisis, with people facing long hours of load shedding.
  • The government has inherited the electricity crisis and is working to resolve it through the implementation of new IPPs and Rental Power Plants.
  • A committee of Ministers has been constituted to monitor the situation on a daily basis, with improvements in oil and gas supplies and the coming into system of power from Mangla expected to improve the situation.
  • The Trade Policy 2009-10 aims to promote economic growth and export-led development, with a focus on poverty alleviation, employment generation, and agriculture development.

Sources:

  • Frontier Star, "Pakistan ready to work with India with full commitment, PM Gilani", July 27, 2009
  • ASIA Pulse, "Pakistan Aims to Improve Relations with India, Appraises Cabinet on Progress", no date provided