His 35-minute address, abounding in rhetoric was, however, quite explicit on the economic issues, with Shaukat Aziz pledging to take the country onto a bright future with GDP growing at 8 to 10 percent provided the national energies were geared to work in unison, away from agitation politics.
Intriguingly, the Prime Minister stayed clear of the foreign policy issues except for a one-sentence commitment to resolving the Kashmir issue in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiris and a general offer of enhancing co-operation with main players of international community. But he pledged to protect and promote the nuclear-cum-missile programme in most unambiguous terms.
Sharply focussing on the problems faced by the man in the street on day to day basis, Shaukat Aziz announced a number of moves to end unemployment, improve law and order, attract investment and empower women. "If I were of any help nobody would be unemployed", he said.
His government has decided not to avail of the last two IMF tranches amounting to 172 SDRs ie about 250 million dollars in line with its policy to end its dependence on the Fund, Shaukat said.
The Prime Minister announced three relief-loaded police reforms: One, a person has been given the right to seek legal action against the initiator of the wrong FIR against him; two, nobody would be arrested on the basis of suspicion, and three, a police officer would be proceeded against for impartial investigation. The Police Order 2002 will be presented before the parliament shortly for enactment, he added.
In order to overcome delay in adjudication by courts, Shaukat said the government has decided to take a number of steps including better wages for the judges and setting up of federal commercial courts and reconciliation by outside -court means.
Shaukat Aziz identified five sectors- agriculture, SMEs, Information Technology, housing, and oil and gas and minerals-which, he said, can help strengthen economic growth and provide jobs. For improved agriculture a comprehensive programme is being launched including raising a cadre of experts, improved seeds, more bank loans and better water supply.
On the industrial front the emphasis is on enhancing value addition, Shaukat Aziz said, adding that for increased access to textile market the textile ministry has been set up. For the private sector SMEs Rs 6 billion credit has been allocated, he said.
The Prime Minister said what he was saying is not mere announcement; it would be followed up for timely implementation. "We will change the file culture. The file will have to keep step with us and not the vice versa, as was the practice in the past."
Shaukat Aziz invited the opposition for talks to resolve differences but excluded the issue of keeping both the offices of president and the army chief by Pervez Musharraf, which, he insisted, stood settled.
"The issue of President Musharraf keeping both the offices has been resolved by the parliament", he said, as the opposition prepares to launch countrywide movement against the dual-office bill adopted by both the houses of the parliament.
AGENCIES ADD: The Prime Minister said 800,000 people living in far-flung areas would be educated under the 'Adult Literacy' programme during the next five years.
The Prime Minister said a comprehensive programme is being launched to introduce a specific product from every region in the country.
Shaukat said the government would soon announce construction of new dams and projects to increase the capacity of the existing ones, besides lining of the watercourses to improve availability of water. The government was trying to create consensus for the construction of large dams, he added.
He said work on lining of watercourses was continuing at a fast pace and all water channels would be brick-lined in the next five years.
"No society can make progress when the people are not safe," Shaukat said, adding that the government would provide better weapons, mobility equipment and additional resources to police for this purpose.
The Prime Minister said the government would work to promote harmony and mutual understanding between the provinces and federation.
He said the federal government would consult the provinces with open heart on the National Financial Commission Award, distribution of water from major dams and on mega projects of water reservoirs to achieve national consensus.
Shaukat Aziz said a massive programme was being launched for the provision of clean drinking water to the people in next five years.
The Prime Minister said that health facilities were being expanded and would be given priority and efforts were underway to include the civil society in this regard.
He said Basic Health Units (BHUs) would be made operational and would be provided all basic health and medicines. The number of Lady Health Visitors would be increased to 10,000.
Shaukat Aziz said livestock also plays an important role in the country's economy, and for many people it was their only source of livelihood. He underlined the need of having veterinary doctors for improved health of milk giving animals, livestock and poultry and said another 250 veterinary doctors would be inducted.