New phase of democratic process commenced: PM
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that with the completion of the term of national and provincial assemblies in the next few days Pakistan is entering a new phase of democratic process and now its up to the people of Pakistan to use their right to vote judiciously.
The ballot box will determine the future political scenario in the country, he added. The Prime Minister said this while talking to the Federal Minister for Interior, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao who called on him at the PM House on Sunday.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistani voters are politically conscious to distinguish between those candidates who have served them and improved the country’s standing in the comity of nations and those who kept their personal interest above the national interest. The Prime Minister while apprising the meeting of his recent visits to Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan and expressed the confidence that PML and its allies are fully prepared for the next general elections and will win a comfortable majority based on their performance.
The Prime Minister said the ruling coalition will bring forward strong candidates and will go to the people with a manifesto focussing on Pakistan’s progress, prosperity and development. The Interior Minister updated the Prime Minister on the latest developments in Swat and the tribal areas and the measures being taken regarding the law and order situation in the area and efforts to restore normalcy and peace there. The Prime Minister was also told that people are appreciative of the record development that has taken place during the tenure of the present government which has enabled the people to have access to basic facilities like electricity, gas, roads and clean drinking water thus improving their standard of living.
Sherpao briefed the Prime Minister on matters relating to his Ministry and updated him on the status of development schemes underway in his constituency.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that Pakistan’s joint ventures with several friendly countries to promote investment in Pakistan through joint-investment companies has been a tremendous success in promoting economic relations between the partner countries. The Prime Minister said this while talking to Mr. Isteqbal Mehdi, Managing Director, Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company at the PM’s House on Sunday.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan has joint venture investment companies with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Iran, Brunei and China. There are several other ventures in consideration with other countries, he said. This model of cooperation between institutions of friendly countries has been a catalyst to promote investment and trade between Pakistan and these countries, he added.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan has always welcomed foreign investment to allow friendly countries to take advantage of Pakistani markets and friendly policies. This trend, he said, is being encouraged so that joint investment companies can participate in industrial projects in financial services as well as infrastructural projects. The Prime Minister said Kuwait is a very important investor and trading artner of Pakistan and the relations between the two countries are developing very well.
Pakistan, he said, along with Kuwait is having very close relations with all the GCC countries and promoting economic and diplomatic cooperation. He also appreciated the fact that a large number of Pakistanis are working in a number of GCC countries where they are contributing to the development of those countries and also sending remittances to Pakistan.
He said that Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company has been an extremely profitable enterprise and the company is constantly expanding and investing more money in the industrial field and financial services to benefit from the growth and opportunities available in Pakistan. Mehdi said the world community is appreciative of the investor-friendly policies introduced in Pakistan during the tenure of the present government, which he mentioned have increased the confidence of both local and foreign investors.