* PM says terrorism has had negative impact on country's economy

Agha Tanveer Iqbal

PPP Greater London: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has a unique status among the political parties of South Asia as its leadership and workers sacrificed for the cause of democracy, said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday.

He was addressing the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and the Federal Council of the PPP that discussed the arrangements for observing the foundation day of the PPP on November 30 and the first anniversary of slain PPP chairwoman Benazir Bhutto.

The PM said, "This is for the first time that the leader of the opposition has been made chairman of the Public Accounts Committee." He said the Benazir Income Support Programme had been launched to eliminate poverty and empower women at the grassroots.

He said the government had taken measures for providing relief to the people including regularising of contract employees from BS 1-15, the reinstatement of government servants removed from service in 1996-97 on political basis, fixing minimum wages at Rs 6,000, amending Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority laws as well as restoring labour, trade and student unions.

He said the PPP leadership and workers gave great sacrifices in the struggle for the restoration of sacked judiciary in the country.

He said the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Group had been formed to support the government in time of a global recession.

The prime minister said Rs 32 billion had been allocated for providing subsidy on fertilisers, while Rs 8 billion had been earmarked for the promotion of drip irrigation.

He asked the members of the CEC to focus on the provision of health and education facilities in their respective areas. Earlier, the meeting offered fateha for Benazir Bhutto. The meeting also greeted the newly elected PPP President Punjab Rana Aftab.

Terrorism: The prime minister said that the government was concerned about the country's law and order. He said that terrorism had incurred negative impacts on the country's economy. He said, "It is the government's responsibility to protect life and property of the people." He said that all members of the party would be consulted to observe the first death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto, adding that the Yom-e-Tasees of PPP would also be observed.