According to official documents available with Business Recorder on Tuesday, the Prime Minister also recounted his efforts in and shared his confidence that the country's leadership is sending a strong signal of unity and stability to the US leadership and the world at large.
"The donors are especially concerned about Pakistan's economic stability because in the backdrop of global recession, they would like to see that their assistance is judiciously spent," the documents cited the Prime Minister as saying. In his opening remarks, Gilani spoke about different current issues, which are being faced by the country.
He reiterated the resolve to hold Cabinet meetings on alternate Wednesdays as a regular feature, and desired that while planning their tours, the ministers should keep in mind the schedule of the Cabinet meetings. He further emphasised that the ministers should ensure that sufficient agenda items were brought before the Cabinet so that it could meet regularly. He also observed that the ministers/ministers of state and secretary of a division should follow the rules and not proceed on tour simultaneously because it reflected negatively on governance.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Prime Minister is continuously turning down similar summaries, being sent by the different ministries. According to the documents, the Prime Minister recalled that the peace agreement in Swat was recommended by the provincial government and was endorsed by parliament.
It was also in deference to the good customs of the area whereby Jirga is a witness to an agreement and supports the aggrieved party in case the agreement is violated. The agreement was signed in good faith by the government with the objective of restoring peace in the area. Violation of the agreement would necessitate use of force with the full support of the people, he added.
Expressing his concern about the recent developments, the Prime Minister intimated that Rs 500 million had been sanctioned for immediate release to the provincial government of NWFP and further rupees eight million had been placed at the disposal of Utility Stores Corporation (USC) for provision of food items to the internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The Prime Minister further apprised the Cabinet about the series of meetings he had been holding with the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leadership to ensure political stability. Similarly, he was actively engaged with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to remove their misunderstandings and sort out problems in Sindh.
The provincial government of Sindh was fully on board in this regard. Gilani expressed his confidence that Pakistan would manage its affairs with maturity and responsibility. It was considered unfortunate that, in the past, dictators in Pakistan had been actively supported by foreign powers. Also the sincere efforts of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia were laudable.
The Prime Minister informed that Saudi Arabia had offered that Imams of Ka'aba and Masjid-i-Nabvi would project the message that suicidal attacks were "Haram" in Islam. Reaffirming the stance of reconciliation, the Prime Minister declared that he had been trying to maintain stability in Punjab and it had been decided not to leave the provincial government.
The Prime Minister also reiterated that disqualification and subsequent restoration of Mian Shahbaz Sharif was the consequence of decisions by the courts. He also brought on record his role in persuading the Sindh government to let Imran Khan visit Karachi.