20000304

Recovery drive

yielded Rs 12.3bn

to exchequer: JJ

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Adviser to Chief Executive for National Affairs and Information Javed Jabbar speaking at "meet the press" programme at the Karachi Press Club on Friday said that the drive for recovery of defaulted loans yielded Rs 12.3 billion to the national exchequer.

He said the defaulted figures as was worked out stood at Rs 146 billion and not Rs 211 billion as was erroneously reported at different occasions. He said the actual amount to be recovered is Rs 98 billion.

To a question, he said there was no possibility of war on limited scale with India as India herself could not afford to wage a war against Pakistan.

He said armed forces of Pakistan have adequate conventional capability to counter any offensive and defend its frontiers effectively. Threats from India, if any, would be countered with force as people of Pakistan are the most effective deterrent, he added.

To a question Javed, said that India had made several attempts to get Pakistan declared a terrorist state, but all her attempts remained futile. However, the unprecedented hostility from India, he said, had been faced by Pakistan in a brave manner.

Javed said though there was no possibility of any conflict as India could not afford such a confrontation as she knew the consequences of indulging into any such adventurism. However, if India makes such a mistake, Pakistan would give an appropriate reply.

He talked at length about the present government's commitments to peace and tranquillity in the country and around its borders.

To a question about increase in allocation in the budget for defence, as India has already done, Javed said that though the finance minister would announce the national budget but due care would be taken of the needs of defence of Pakistan as well as that of the armed forces.

Talking about the commitment of the present government towards the restoration of democracy, he said the government was working towards that goal. It had already announced that the local bodies elections would be held in the year 2000.

Giving this timeframe in November 1999, just after 70 days coming into power, the government had established its credibility and showed how firmly it was committed to its programme for the restoration of democratic institutions.

He made it clear that the system government has decided to introduce would not be like that of basic democracy once remained enforce in the country. The new system would be a major change and would be introduced in a phased manner.

Javed said that data on eligible voters was being collected and compiled on computer. There would be around 15 million more voters he estimated.

He said the government was determined to eliminate corruption from the society. To begin with, bureaucracy is being cleansed. So far 78 officials on the charges of corruption, malpractice and misconduct have been dismissed from the services in Sindh.

Javed said that 2,341 corruption cases were in hand with various agencies-corruption committees, 161 officers have been suspended and 180 have been charge-sheeted and 48 corruption cases have been referred to the National Accountability Bureau. These are high profile criminal cases involving both politicians and government officials.

The process is continuing and the effort is to give a clean bureaucratic set up to the people of Pakistan, he added.

He said the government had so far recovered Rs 105 million and around 20 people have been convicted so far.

Javed said the government respected the federation and would like the four provinces progress.

"Report on the work of the government Ñ October 12, 1999 to January 2000" was also circulated among the newsmen.

Javed said that the government respected all laws and believe in the rule of law in letter and sprit "and these certainly include the laws under Newspapers Employees Act." The government has already invited nominations for the 7th Wage Board, he added.

To questions relating to timeframe for stay in power and restoration of complete democracy by the government, Javed said it was the people of Pakistan who stand guarantee to the performance of any government in power.