Economic liberalization policy to continue in Pakistan
Pakistan Times National News Desk

PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Wednesday the provision of quick justice to the masses was one of the top priorities of his government which was seriously considering to introduce necessary reforms in the judicial system.

“Justice delayed is justice denied”, said the Premier adding; only those countries went for quick progress where swift justice was ensured to the citizens. He was addressing the Peshawar Bar Association after performing ground breaking ceremony of Judicial Complex Peshawar. “Delay in provision of justice in-fact marred the development process of the country,” observed Mr Aziz.

The Prime Minister sounded optimistic that the proposed reforms in the judicial system would not only further fine tune it but would also go along way in reducing pendency and ensuring transparency in dispensation of cases besides providing quick justice to the people.

The Prime Minister observed that the judicial system was the sign of development of a country and Pakistan’s judiciary progressed and developed with the passage of time in which the stakeholder, the bars and the judiciary positively contributed.

Seeks Co-operation

He sought the cooperation of the lawyers in early disposal of the cases and urged them not to take a bulk of cases as it was also a major factor in delaying justice to the people.

He told the lawyers that intentions of the present government were clear enough and it wanted to move forward the judicial system in a fair and transparent manner. Prime minister assured that he supported the contentions of the legal fraternity to increase the strength of the judges in the High Courts. However, he told that at presently no seat of judge was vacant in Peshawar High Court.

Access to Justice Program

He disclosed that the Asian Development Bank has agreed to provide Rs.300 million dollars for bringing reforms in the judicial system and Access to Justice Program [AJP] was initiated under the same concept. Under the AJP, the lawyers and judges would be given training besides establishing judicial complex to provide quick and inexpensive justice to the people. The Peshawar Judicial Complex would be funded from the same program. He thanked the ADB for giving practical shape to our program

Prime Minister said after thorough assessment of the whole situation, he came to know that property cases in fact played the key role in delay factor and there were reasons for it of which the outdate and obsolete record keeping system in the country topped the list.

Computerization of Land Records

He stressed the need for automation and computerization of the entire land records saying it should be presented to the public in transparent manner. He argued that as much as we can reduce inflow of cases it would curtail pendency and delay factor. He said the foreign donors have expressed their willingness to assist Pakistan in reforming the judicial system.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz assured that Police order 2002 would be implemented it in letter and spirit. He said the government had given enough facilities to the police force to effectively meet the changing nature of crimes and combat terrorism. Like wise the government, he said, had taken various measures to improve mobility of police force, and its communication network and assured to give more fund to the force.

The Prime Minister was all praise for the frontier police. He admitted the law and order situation in the NWFP was for better. He said to improve performance of the police force new tools and techniques are being employed and are concentrating on preventive side to pre-empt any mishap before it takes place.

CM Akram Khan Durrani

Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister NWFP Akram Khan Durrani said that share of the NWFP in the Access to Justice Program comes to Rs.2.50 million whereas it received Rs.200 million in 2004 under the same program. He said similar judicial complex would be established at district level in the province.

He drew the attention of the Prime Minister to bulk of pendency in the courts in NWFP and demanded made of more judges in Peshawar High Court. He said the appointment of additional judges could be appointed in the Malakand and Bannu benches of the Peshawar High Court.

Governor Khalil ur Rehman

NWFP Governor Commander Khalil ur Rehman in his address said that the construction of Judicial Complex first of its kind in the country was joint venture of the Federal and NWFP Governments.

The NWFP provided land while the federal government would bear the whole expenditures to be incurred on its construction. He said, at present courts in Peshawar were located at scattered places and the construction of judicial complex would facilitate the lawyers in disposal of the cases.

Economic Liberalization

Yet another report says that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz reiterated his government’s resolve to continue the policy of economic liberalization and creation of an investment friendly environment to make Pakistan a manufacturing and trade hub for Asia, Middle East and the Gulf.

He was addressing the concluding session of the first-ever NWFP Investment Conference, attended by a large number of foreign and local investors.

Prime Minister said the government was committed to move ahead on the path of economic liberalization that is compatible to the public-private partnerships needs and provides confidence to the foreign and domestic investors.

“You are stakeholders for us and we recognize our responsibility to provide you a secure and predictable environment,” he said.

The federal government, he said, was trying to bring at par all underdeveloped areas of the country. “The country on the whole can only progress, if all its provinces develop equally. If one is left behind, than the whole country suffers,” he added.

He assured that all reservations and priorities referred to by the provincial government, would be considered by the federal government. He said the government was also trying to resolve the issue of National Finance Commission at the earliest.

Prime Minister said the federal government had also been the guarantor for the provincial government to help it get loans from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

He urged the participants to “open up minds” and to “think out of the box”, seek new opportunities and prepare themselves to tackle the challenges brought by globalization.

Prime Minister Aziz said the country was witnessing a growth of around 7 per cent, the industrial growth was around 15 per cent and there was movement in the money markets, as de-regulation was now the buzz word.

He cited the example of country’s telecom sector and said now there were six companies competing to provide cellular services across the country.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz listed a number of opportunities present for investors in NWFP, which he said needed to be exploited for the mutual good of the people of the province and the country.

Oil and Gas in Karak

He said the discovery of oil and gas in Karak could boost exploration in other areas by private sector and usher in an era of prosperity. He said the gemstone industry could also contribute to the economy, if more skilled labour and modern technology was utilized.

Similarly, he added, the marble industry required upgrading of techniques as most of it was lost, during blasting and obsolete technology was being used. He said there was a rich potential in the tourism sector and said Turkey was generating US dollars 6 to 8 billion annually from this industry.

The Prime Minister said the province could generate lots of cheap electricity by utilizing its hilly terrain and water resources.

About cement industry, he said, the reconstruction in Afghanistan had multiplied the demand and the industry was all set to grow in the years to come.

He said earlier it was thought that Peshawar had a disadvantage, because it was at such a distance from Karachi seaport, but he said, the city was now an important hub for most of the around US one billion trade headed for Afghanistan.

He said a modern trucking centre was being set up at Torkham, with modern X-ray facilities to ensure quicker transit and increased trade between the two countries.

The government, he said was also constructing Peshawar Torkham road, and providing funds to the Afghan government for Torkham-Jalalabad road.●