Saudi Arabia to help improve oil reserves: Zardari

PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari Sunday said the country's security, economy and democracy were the top priorities of PPP government and it was working on an incentives package for under-privileged section of the society. The PPP Co-Chairman, in an informal chat with the newsmen here, blamed mismanagement and bad policies of the last decade as main reasons leading to the current economic crisis.

Zardari, who is accompanying Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in his visit to Saudi Arabia, said Saudi Arabian leaders have always been generous to Pakistan and they always think for protecting the interests of Pakistan.

He said the visit of Prime Minister Gilani to Saudi Arabia will help give new dimensions to our ties with the Kingdom in long way, adding, Saudi Arabia would help Pakistan for improving its strategic oil reserves to make them permanent.

Zardari said the consumer financing brought a negative impact on the society. It also resulted in increased street crimes.

He questioned that when country is facing challenges on its border then how the law and order situation could be improved within minimum time.

Zardari said, "In Pakistan's environment, we have to see many things, but it does not mean that we have any fear from anyone or in any matter. We are only concerned about 160 million people, who are leading a hard life."

The PPP Co-Chairman said the government would provide relief ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 1500 to the poorest of poor in the forthcoming budget to improve their buying power and assured that it would be doubled within one year.

Turning to the political situation of the country Zardari said the PPP does not acknowledge Pervez Musharraf as a constitutional President, adding, but as by default or circumstance he (Musharraf) occupies a certain position, the government was working with him.

"Since we have to run the affairs of the state, we have a working relationship with the President", he added. He said, "We have put aside our personal likes and dislikes, as we neither give advantage nor disadvantage to anyone" Zardari said the PPP has never supported any dictator, "neither in the past nor it will do so in future."

He said PPP had never sought support of the dictators to come into power and has always worked for real democracy. He said his party does not believe in having relations with personalities but working for the improvement of collective political system and strengthen institutions.

Regarding budget deficit the Co-Chairman PPP said the government will take stringent measures to overcome this deficit and would never indulge in the blame game. Regarding the strategy of the government on improving trade balance, he said all options would be utilised in this regard. He said the government would make all out efforts to capture 1.2 billion dollars Indian market for this purpose. He said Pakistani leadership including himself will visit India in the near future to achieve this goal.

Zardari said Pakistan is an Agrarian society but unfortunately all the governments except PPP governments had neglected this sector and negative impact of this negligence are now coming out.

He expressed the confidence that the PPP-led coalition government would again give top priority to the development of the agriculture sector to overcome the food crisis.

On the judges issue, he said there are some differences between the coalition partners on the modalities of restoration of judges to resolve the issue, adding, but the PPP believes in the independence of judiciary and empowerment of Parliament. Asif Ali Zardari has extended his stay in Saudi Arabia for further talks with the Saudi leadership.