The President told the meeting, preceding the commencement of the Budget session in the National Assembly, that Pakistan has achieved substantial economic progress and high growth during the last seven years. President General Pervez Musharraf said the development process would move forward ahead through a combination of continuity of policies and consistency of implementation.
The President, who joined the luncheon meeting on special invitation of the Prime Minister, said the gains made over the years, and were being transferred to the common man adding that the forthcoming budget will be a step in that direction.
He said measures were afoot to reduce poverty and increase employment and livelihood opportunities, steps have been taken to check inflation, and provision of essential commodities at affordable prices.
The President said the country was secure and its defence impregnable. He said the real defence lies in economic development and prosperity of the people and added that it was the primary focus of government's economic policies.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the next budget will fulfil people's aspirations and positively impact all sectors of economy and segments of society including the salaried class, wage earners, farmers and traders.
He said the record PSDP for 2006-07 would create economic opportunities and jobs. Poverty will further decline and there would be visible improvement in the quality and standard of life of the common man with better facilities of health and education.
The lunch hosted by the Prime Minister was attended by 150 MNAs, Federal Ministers and Ministers of State and a select group of Senators belonging to PML, and allied parties. Earlier President General Pervez Musharraf and the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz held an exclusive meeting and discussed prevailing situation in the country.