"Fair and free elections will be held in accordance with the country's Constitution," the prime minister said. He said that it was for the first time in the country's history that a democratically-elected government had completed its five-year term. Highlighting sacrifices rendered by the PPP, he said that his party would not allow anyone to derail the democratic set up.
He said that the next few months were extremely important for the country, adding that during this period elections would definitely be held and the government would hand over power to its successor. Upon the completion of its tenure, the government would make way for a caretaker government as described in the Constitution. Advising people to participate in general elections, he said that they should cast their votes based on the government's performance.
According to him, the judiciary was independent and the government was complying with all its orders. The prime minister said that among major issues faced by the government were the law and order situation and energy crisis, adding that the government was making serious efforts to overcome these problems.
Reminding that when the government took over, terrorism was at its peak, the country faced a serious energy crisis and foreign reserves were not even sufficient to cover three-month oil import bill. Raja Pervez Ashraf said that over the past five years, efforts had been made to streamline domestic affairs. Some progress had been made, including increasing foreign exchange reserves, historic performance of the Stock Exchange, adding 3,700MW power to the system, inflation which was at 25 percent was brought down to a single digit, exports posted a record increase and the country became a wheat exporting country.
He said that the country was still facing acute shortages of electricity, despite the addition of 3,700MW. According to him, consumption of electricity had increased in remote rural areas, causing a jump in the demand of gas supply, he added. Pervez Ashraf said that the government had decided not to import coal in future and, adding that the use of Thar coal would be promoted.
All private sector units should work to set up units based on local coal. Answering a question about reports about flight of capital, he said that they were all rumours and no unit had been shifted abroad. Pervez Ashraf advised the Chief Secretary Sindh to revisit the Baldia Town industrial fire incident in which around 200 people lost their lives.
Leader of the Businessmen Group and former President KCCI Siraj Kasim Teli said that federal and provincial governments compensated families of people who died in the Baldia Town fire as well as the injured. He said that charges had been framed in the incident under Section 302, which was unjustified. Chairman of the Sindh Board of Investment Zubair Motiwala said that efforts being made to bring foreign and local investment failed because of negative perception of Pakistan abroad.
Pakistan image had also been tarnished because of the prevailing law and order situation. He said that 500MW wind power would be added into system by June next year. KCCI President Mohammad Haroon Agar said a spike in crimes such as extortion, kidnapping for ransom, targeted killings, hijackings of vehicles had shaken the confidence of the business community in Karachi. He said that the law and order problem in the city required a political solution and a strong support from the judiciary and all law enforcement agencies.