THE NEWS: Monday, September 18, 2006, Shaaban 24, 1427 A.H.

Jobs’ quota according to 1998 census: IPCC

ISLAMABAD: Inter-Provincial Coordination Committee (IPCC) decided on Monday that the provincial quota of employments would be distributed according to 1998 census not that of 1972.

Briefing about the decisions taken up by IPCC, Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Salim Saifullah said that the jobs’ quota had been decided to be distributed according to the 1998 census on the demand by Balochistan, adding that the centre would provide 50 per cent amount for the supply of clean drinking water in Balochistan.

Salim Saifullah Khan said that the centre would itself deduct the fund from those authorities, which would not pay off their arrears to the provinces on time.

He said no suggestion to divide Punjab into two parts was mulled over in IPCC session.

The federal minister said that all political parties were in favour of provincial autonomy and in this regard the government itself wanted to table the bill with full consensus in the assembly.

“Legislation has been asked over the increase of punishment from one month to three on the undue usage of loudspeaker,” he added.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz presided over the first session of IPCC here where he said the Inter-Provincial Coordination Committee (IPCC) has been revived to promote understanding and harmony between the provinces and the federation on important national matters.

Shaukat Aziz said the IPCC should focus on important national matters and remove inter-provincial gridlock to become a truly result and action oriented institution.

The Prime Minister said that the existence of political differences is normal in a democratic dispensation.

He, however said, "We need to have one voice when dealing with issues of national importance and national interest should be kept above political considerations."

The Prime Minister said Pakistan came into existence in the name of Islam and added that Islam, Pakistan and the Ummah are one and the same thing.

He also emphasized the need to inculcate positive attitude and forge unity on national matters. "If there is unity, even the enemy can do no harm to the country," he added.

The Prime Minister said, "The country will progress only when we face the challenges faced by the country unitedly."

He said that the nation only recently demonstrated the finest example of unity in its ranks when the earthquake struck parts of the country and AJ&K last year.

The Prime Minister said the nation jolted in the wake of the massive devastation on October 8, last year and every house, in Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan or NWFP
became a relief camp and eager to help those hit by the earthquake.

He said, "This was clearly our finest hour as a nation". The Prime Minister said that the country has come a long way from the days when the economy had become
virtually bankrupt seven years ago.

"Today there is political and economic stability," he said.

The Prime Minister said, "However, we are faced with several challenges including further reduction in poverty, more jobs and increasing literacy rate in the
country."

"We need to ensure that the fruits of economic growth should reach the common man, " he added.

The Prime Minister said, after achieving economic stability, the government is now focusing on transferring the benefits of growth to the general public.

He said it is heartening to note that the poverty has started to decline and prices too have started showing downward trend.

The Prime Minister said the prices of 75% essential items in Pakistan are the lowest in the region while Pakistan's per capita income is the highest in the region.

The major difference between now and seven years ago, when the President Pervez Musharraf took office is that unlike then now the government has the resources
to tackle the economic difficulties, he added.

The Prime Minister said the provincial governments should ensure that prices of essential items should remain stable during Ramzan.

He said the Price Magistrates should keep a vigilant check on the prices.

The Prime Minister emphasized on the need of taking steps to enhance interaction among people belonging to various provinces and said different institutions should arrange functions and activities having participation of the students and youth of all
provinces.


My question is how it will effect present quota of Punjab,sind,NWFP,Baluchistan,FATA & AJK