Islamabad: March 24, 2013
I
am blessed and privileged to have had an opportunity to serve the great people
of Pakistan.
I have been touched by the warmth, affection and support extended to me during
my stay in office.
I
have tried to discharge my responsibilities to the best of my abilities as the
Chief Executive of this great country. In this, I am fortunate to have benefited
from the wisdom and counsel of President Asif Ali Zardari.
Hailing
from a middle class background, I take pride in being a party worker and in opening
the Prime Minister’s House to the people and the workers for their free access.
Every
endeavour was made to ensure that appointments, recruitments, postings and
transfers of public servants are made on merit. In this connection, a policy
was also formulated and implemented in Balochistan without any discrimination.
I have upheld transparency, merit, financial prudence, openness and
participatory decision-making.
Be
it the Karachi
Factory inferno, the tragedy in Balochistan or attack on Malala Yousafzai, our
people have braved adversity with grace and courage. No matter what the
circumstances, their resolve to preserve their dignity, values and way of life
have remained unwavering.
No
other nation of the world has been exposed to as many challenges as Pakistan.
Still our people remain determined to move on and are ready to render every
sacrifice to protect their values of pluralism, diversity, tolerance and
inclusiveness.
The
people of Pakistan
are simple but endowed with dynamism and resilience. With every crisis, the
nation has bounced back with renewed vigour.
We
have pursued policies to provide relief to the people. However, we have not
been able to succeed as much as we would have liked to in reining the power
crisis.
In
the short span available to me, I have approved and released record funds for
development projects in the country.
The
present democratic dispensation has had to contend with numerous challenges
with the potential to reverse the gains. Let me acknowledge here the support of
my cabinet colleagues, the party, coalition partners and the contribution of
the opposition.
I
would like to particularly appreciate the contributions of and the role played
by the judiciary, the armed forces, political forces, media and civil society
in strengthening democracy in the country, which augurs well for Pakistan.
I
have maintained good relations with leaders of all political hues both within
and outside the parliament. I have ensured that there is a smooth transition of
power following the completion of constitutional term by the present democratic
government.
There
can be criticism on the policies pursued by me, however no one can blame or
point out any financial scandals during my government.
At
the external level, the government spearheaded a broad-based and diversified
foreign policy in line with the directions of Parliament and aspirations of the
people. We developed our relations with immediate neighbours as well as other
friends on the basis of mutual respect, equality, and fair play. Economic and
public diplomacy remained a central plank of the foreign policy objectives that
the government pursued during tenure. Trade not aid was our guiding principle.
In
my long career in public service, I have all along been convinced of the
potential and resourcefulness of our people. In the last few months, my faith
in the people has only been reinforced. Pakistan
is endowed with great potential and resources which portend a promising future.
We
have rendered great sacrifices for democracy and the restoration of people’s
rights. Today there is a consensus on the supremacy of law and continuity of
democracy in the country. This is a tribute to the collective wisdom of the
present leadership and their faith in the people of Pakistan.
Today
I am convinced more than ever that a great future awaits us. We have laid the
foundation of a Pakistan,
which is in line with the vision of the founding fathers and befitting the
status of a 180 million-strong people and a nuclear power state.
Now
the time has come for the next government to build on the gains we made. What
it needs is that its sons and daughters rise to the challenge and do everything
in their power to make it happen. We will together, InshAllah, make it happen.
Let
us commit ourselves to continue to serve our people wherever we are. This
country has given us everything. It is about time we return some of its favours
by working hard for its glory and rightful place in the comity of nations.
In
the end I bow my head in gratitude to Almighty for giving me the strength to
guide this nation during testing times and pray for the prosperity, welfare and
progress of the people of Pakistan.
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