President's spokesperson Farhatullah Babar quoted President Zardari as saying that he had directed the government to form a new bank to cater to the needs of entrepreneurs in southern Punjab. Vowing to provide maximum relief to poor segments of the society in the next budget, President Zardari criticised the previous governments for using banks for political purposes, and said that the government would ensure that banks could not be used in this manner.
Speaking with various party delegates in Multan, he said the PPP leadership was aware of the problems being faced by the people and was taking all possible measures to resolve them. Urging party leaders and workers to reach out to the people to address their grievances, the president said that the PPP-led government would continue its policy of reconciliation to strengthen democracy and steer the country out of crisis.
He said the government had taken measures to ensure the independence of the Election Commission of Pakistan, enabling it to hold free‚ fair and transparent elections in future and making it impossible for anyone to hijack the polls.
Reiterating the resolve to create a separate Saraiki province in southern Punjab, he said that he had directed the prime minister to initiate talks in this regard with all political parties. Senator Farhatullah Babar said that President Zardari had maintained that the move was a mere political ruse, but it was meant to respect and honour the aspiration of the people of southern Punjab.
The president, the spokesperson said, reminded that the government had kept its promise it made with the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, giving them their cherished identity. He had said that the people of southern Punjab area had every right to demand and have their own province and the party leadership respected their wishes.