ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday urged the government, opposition and all other political parties to declare Vision 2025 as national plan through consensus to ensure welfare of the public.
“I earnestly desire that the government, opposition and all political parties should declare it (Vision 2025) as a national plan through consensus,” the president said while addressing the Joint Session of the Parliament in Islamabad to mark beginning of the new parliamentary year.
The president said that the vision included several programmes for stability of the economy and welfare of the people.
President Mamnoon said that the vision included resolve to be in the top 25 economic of the world by raising the national growth and per capita income. He said that there was a need to focus on controlling the rising rate of population growth to ensure the optimal use of resources.
Mamnoon Hussain also urged that the political process should have been above individual and parochial interest for the sake of higher objectives of national progress and prosperity.
The president pointed out that difference of opinion on the process of development and rights on the national resources was not unusual. However, he added, it was also imperative to block the avenues of chaos emerging from difference of opinion through a well thought out strategy. He said that would help thwart all efforts to make the process of national development controversial.
Mamnoon Hussain referred to the steps being taken to bring Balochistan and Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) in the national mainstream and said that those were part of effort to include the marginalized classes in the development process. He hoped that all segments of the society would participate in the task of national reconstruction with the same spirit.
The president further said that trade and investment friendly policies and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and power projects were manifestation and components of the plan to exploit precious resources for welfare of the people.
In addition, the president said that as a result of prudent economic policies of the government, economic indicators were healthy and that was also acknowledged by the State Bank and international economic institutions. He said that forward looking nations invested heavily in human resources and infrastructure for sustainable development.
President Mamnoon appreciated programmes aimed at bettering the lot of the young but called for more programme to ensure effective training and creation of maximum employment opportunities.
Referring to the problems being faced in exports, the president asked the Ministry of Commerce for a permanent and effective solution of the issue with the help of experts.
The president said that Pakistan’s defence production sector performed noticeably better and it could capture the attention of the prospective buyers in the market. He said that there was need to use modern tools of marketing to reap maximum benefits from this capability.
Mamnoon Hussain said that there were also need to undertake serious efforts for poverty alleviation and improving the administration of health facilities. He said that more hospitals and health units should have been established to cater for the needs of the growing population.
Meanwhile, members belonging to Opposition parties raised anti-government slogans during the address of the president. Later, they staged a walkout from the House to record their concerns on the government policies.
