President Asif Ali Zardari proposes Seraiki Bank

In quite an unprecedented move, President Asif Ali Zardari indicated establishment of first-ever Seraiki Bank, seeking proposals from Southern Punjab businessman.

While speaking to the media with the business community in the Prime Minister House in Multan, President Zardari stressed that the new Seraiki bank will address all the fiscal issues of the deprived area.

For the first-ever ethnic based banking project, he observed, “I invite industrialists, the business community and traders to join hands for the Seraiki bank and you will have full support of the federation”.

He also assured the business community that the issue of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) would be handled by next month, saying all the payments would be made at the earliest.

President Zardari commented, “I am surprised to see the economic weakness of southern Punjab. Leaders raising slogans of good governance should come here and evaluate the ground realities themselves and then blame the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on other issues”.

Earlier, the President called upon Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to instantly start consultations with all political parties with a view to make a separate Seraiki province in Southern Punjab.

President Asif Ali Zardari while heading the meeting said that banks in the past had been controlled for political ends but this time the PPP-led government has aimed at ensuring a financial system that will not be influenced against political adversaries.

He categorically stated that the incumbent had no intention of abolishing the death penalty because it was part of the Constitution. Owing to false allegations corruption, private companies were forced to wrap up their business in the energy sector, he added.

Quoting the allegations leveled by former president Farooq Leghari and Ehtesab Bureau chief Saifur Rehman against the Benazir government, he said similar charges were now being levelled against the incumbent.

Giving support to his premier, he said Gilani was facing criticism because he had taken up the issue of Seraiki province. The politics persuaded by the federation did not yield results therefore the powers were transferred to the provinces, he said.

Taking credit for giving powers to parliament, President Zardari said poverty and non-development in the area engendered terrorism and a delay in creating Seraiki province will strengthen extremism in the region.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Apr 16 2012. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.