.jpg)
Updated on
Summary
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday announced that the local bodies elections have been postponed till the improvement of law and order in the country. Presently conditions are not conducive for holding of local bodies elections, he said addressing a press conference after an inter-provincial meeting with the four chief ministers and Prime Minister AJK at PM Secretariat. He said administrators will be appointed in place of Nazims whose terms are nearing expiry. Administrators will be government officers and not political appointees and will take charge in August. He also informed that national population and housing census has been delayed till the year end due to the law and order situation in NWFP. The situation will be reassessed at the year end, although all preparations are there, he said. The Prime Minister in response to a question said that the bye-elections have been delayed on the request of PML-N leadership which cited security reasons to demand putting off these elections. He said he has always maintained that the political leadership of PML-N should be in the National Assembly. He said the national education policy was still in the process of consultation with all stakeholders including the four provincial governments. The year 2010, Prime Minister added, will be celebrated as the year of literacy. He said lack of education in Pakistan was the main cause of social and economic problems. He said NWFP has sought more time for filing their recommendations for the policy because of the security situation in the province. The Prime Minister said amendments will be brought in the Police Order 2002 in line with the constitution. He said the issue of Zakat and Ushr committees has been taken up by the cabinet. A separate ministry of Zakat and Ushr has been formed so that the deserving could get stipends and facilities of health, education and technical training. He said water will be distributed among provinces according to the 1991 water sharing accord. The government will soon call a meeting to make headway on the National Finance Commission award. Council of Common Interests (CCI) will also meet shortly to take up its agenda, he said adding a committee has been formed which will come up with its recommendations to resolve issues facing Balochistan.
