DATE=6/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233759
TITLE=PAK POL (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=ALI ZAIDI
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN'S PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF HAS ANNOUNCED A
PACKAGE OF AUSTERITY MEASURES AND REFORMS -- TO OFFSET THE EFFECT
OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON THE COUNTRY AFTER IT CONDUCTED
NUCLEAR TESTS. WHILE THE MOVE HAS BEEN GENERALLY WELCOMED BY THE
PUBLIC, CRITICS SAY SOME OF THE MEASURES WILL BE DIFFICULT TO
IMPLEMENT.ALI ZAIDI REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD.
TEXT: AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS SPEECH TO THE NATION THURSDAY,
PAKISTAN'S PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF CONGRATULATED HIS PEOPLE
ON THEIR COUNTRY BECOMING A NUCLEAR POWER.
THEN HE TOLD THEM THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE COUNTRY TO BECOME
ECONOMICALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT -- A TIME FOR SACRIFICE TO COUNTER
THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON PAKISTAN FOR ITS NUCLEAR TESTS.
// SHARIF ACT (URDU FADE INTO TRANSLATION IN TEXT)
MR. SHARIF SAYS PAKISTAN'S ENTIRE SYSTEM HAS BECOME UNVIABLE AND
NEEDS TO BE OVERHAULED. APPEALING TO NATIONAL PRIDE IN THE FACE
OF A DIFFICULT FUTURE, THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS PAKISTAN MUST
LEARN TO RELY ONLY ON ITSELF.
AS EXPECTED, THE PACKAGE INCLUDES SEVERAL CUTS IN GOVERNMENT
EXPENDITURES AND THE SALE OF SOME STATE ASSETS TO RAISE REVENUES.
IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT IS MOVING TO CRACKDOWN ON TAX EVASION
AND LOAN DEFAULTS -- PROBLEMS THAT HAVE SEVERELY HAMPERED
PAKISTAN'S ECONOMY FOR MANY YEARS. THE PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED
THAT BANK DEFAULTERS WILL HAVE FOUR WEEKS TO CLEAR THEIR DEBTS OR
FACE STIFF PUNISHMENT.
IN HIS SPEECH, MR. SHARIF UNVEILED SWEEPING LAND REFORMS --
INCLUDING A PROMISE TO REDISTRIBUTE MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION ACRES
OF AGRICULTURAL LAND FROM PRIVATE OWNERS TO LANDLESS PEASANTS.
CREDITS WILL ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO SMALL FARMERS AND TO YOUNG
PEOPLE TO SET UP THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.
THE PRIME MINISTER CALLED ON PAKISTANIS AT HOME TO CURTAIL THEIR
CONSUMPTION OF IMPORTED GOODS. HE ASKED PAKISTANIS ABROAD TO
CONTRIBUTE FOREIGN EXCHANGE TO THEIR COUNTRY'S RESERVES AND TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF NEW INCENTIVES DESIGNED TO TO ATTRACT FOREIGN
INVESTMENT.
MR. SHARIF PLEDGED TO DO HIS PART AS WELL -- SAYING HE WILL GIVE
UP HIS PALATIAL GOVERNMENT RESIDENCE FOR A SMALLER HOUSE AND HIS
FAMILY -- WITH LARGE INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS -- WILL ALSO REPAY ALL
LOANS TAKEN FROM BANKS.
THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ANNOUNCEMENT HOWEVER WAS THE PRIME
MINISTER'S DECISION TO GO AHEAD WITH THE PROPOSED KALABAGH DAM
PROJECT. THE DAM -- LOCATED IN NORTHWESTERN PAKISTAN -- IS
OPPOSED BY TWO OF PAKISTAN'S FOUR PROVINCES, AND HAS BEEN A
HIGHLY EMOTIONAL ISSUE IN PAKISTANI POLITICS FOR DECADES.
THE OPPOSITION PAKISTAN PEOPLES PARTY SAYS THIS DECISION IS
"ARBITRARY AND DIVISIVE," AND WOULD ENDANGER THE FEDERATION.
THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE DAM SAY IT IS ESSENTIAL TO MEET PAKISTAN'S
FUTURE IRRIGATION NEEDS.
MEANWHILE, FRIDAY THE FINANCE MINISTER IS EXPECTED TO UNVEIL THE
COUNTRY'S NEXT BUDGET TO PARLIAMENT IN LINE WITH THE REFORM AND
AUSTERITY PACKAGE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/LTD/JO
11-Jun-98 4:56 PM EDT (2056 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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