A few months back, he had made a similar announcement regarding visits to China with almost similar frequency, only to find later that it was not feasible. It remains to be seen if he succeeds in keeping the promise regarding Punjab. Being simultaneously the Head of State and de facto PPP chief, Zardari would be required to attend a number of official ceremonies and also meet partymen.
In his capacity as President, he would attend the inaugural ceremonies of a water reservoir and the construction of a bridge. He has set up his temporary camp at the Governor's House, presently occupied by party loyalist Salmaan Taseer, who is a bete noir in the eyes of the PML-N.
The PPP expects Zardari to help devise its strategy regarding the forthcoming local bodies elections and a confidence vote from the Punjab Assembly, in line with those passed in other provinces. Since his arrival, Zardari has reached out to party loyalists and vital sections of society that include members of the business community and working class activists, while on Thursday he had a lengthy session with newspaper editors and senior journalists.
His wearing of two caps has been a subject of controversy and the PML-N, which is leading the coalition with the PPP in Punjab maintained that as he was coming as the PPP president, rather than Head of State, the party leadership was not required to receive him. No PML-N leader, other than a provincial minister was, therefore, present at the airport at his arrival.
PML-N chief Nawaz had already gone to Beijing for a week, where he was visiting a dairy farm on the day of Zardari's arrival. Similarly, Chief Minister Shahbaz was in Turkey, avowedly on a mission to invite potential Turkish investors to Punjab.
During his interaction with media persons, Zardari defended some of the stands he had recently taken. He also detailed what he considered to be PPP-led government's achievements. He maintained that in view of the country's past history, the PPP had to be on guard against certain forces, which he feared could again be out to destabilise the system. Irrespective of its being realistic or otherwise, the fear is quite natural.
He maintained that he wanted to nurture the system and protect and preserve it. He pleaded that it was vital for the country to ensure that various state institutions function in harmony and avoid a clash, which could be disastrous. He recounted what he described as the PPP-led government's achievements and the role-played by him.
On top of the list was the hammering together a coalition, which remains afloat despite trying conditions, the Balochistan package and crackdown on militancy in Swat and South Waziristan with the help of the army. Also included in the list of successes was the launching of a Water Resources programme. He defended his numerous foreign tours saying these were meant to get resources to overcome power and gas shortages.
Water crisis being the biggest challenge for the country, he had managed to secure loans worth $700 million for the construction of 32 more dams. The government had also ensured the provision of 12.5 percent shares in public sector industries to the workers.
It had got hundreds of thousands of displaced persons rehabilitated, which was a record in recent history. He talked about the vision and mission of PPP leaders Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, which was to strengthen democracy and guarantee rights to the poor and neglected segments of society.
Zardari's remarks indicated that national reconciliation was high on his agenda. He dismissed surmises that the two top PML-N leaders had gone abroad to avoid him saying that their visits might have been scheduled before the announcement of his visit to Punjab.
He said he also trusted the PML-N leadership despite their lack of faith in him. He also welcomed the media's constructive criticism. While the sentiments are fine, what is needed is to prod the parliamentary committee deliberating for months changes required in the constitution. On Thursday, the committee agreed on taking away the power to appoint the army chief from the President. This should provide a modicum of solace to the opposition, who accuses the committee of moving at a snail's pace.