Cabinet reshuffle: Relief for people in next budget
ISLAMABAD: The Core Committee of the Pakistan People’s Party decided on Wednesday to reshuffle the federal cabinet and give maximum relief to people in the next budget.
At a meeting presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the presidency, the committee charted out an action plan in view of the approaching elections.
Before the meeting, President Zardari met the governors of four provinces and chief ministers of three provinces.
“The committee decided that the federal cabinet should be reshaped keeping in view the next general elections,” former law minister Babar Awan said, but did not indicate what kind of changes would be made.
“Change in the federal cabinet means overall change,” he said.
Political analysts believe that the PPP would not only accommodate some of its disgruntled leaders but also a few members of coalition parties to ensure maximum support in the elections.
Presidency’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the party leaders urged Prime Minister Gilani to take urgent measures to provide relief to people.
“The meeting observed that there should be a paradigm shift in the policy to provide relief to the common man,” he said.
Mr Awan said there was a consensus at the meeting that people must get some relief in the next budget.
The committee also discussed the Senate elections. It was briefed on talks with the opposition on the 20th Amendment.
The spokesman said the meeting reviewed the situation in the country and discussed ways of coping with various challenges faced by the party and government.
“The prime minister briefed the meeting on the policy of reconciliation and upcoming legislation in parliament and reiterated the resolve of the party and government that all issues will be resolved through negotiations by taking all political forces along,” he said.
Mr Gilani, he said, was of the view that the government wanted to build consensus on major legislative initiatives and this policy would continue.
The meeting appreciated the support extended by all coalition partners to the government.
The prime minister informed the meeting about his visit to Qatar and his meetings with the leadership and business community of that country and the signing of a memorandum of understanding on LNG import from Qatar.
Source: Dawn
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