IP a moment of rejoicing

Courtesy:-  S Rahman

It is indeed a moment of rejoicing. The people are happy that the government of Pakistan has finally resolved to go ahead with the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline. People are yet happier that the
 rumor mills have come to a standstill that was bent upon tarnishing the image of PPP-led government and the PPP Co-Chairman and President, Asif Ali Zardari.

The Pakistan People’s Party leadership must be congratulated for taking such a bold and wise decision that is going to bring about economic turnaround and prosperity. Obviously, the scaling down of
 energy crisis and gas shortage spells revival of industry, one of the primary engines of economic growth, besides agriculture. The decision owes to the PPP government’s roots in the masses that provided sufficient strength to the government to remain steadfast despite threats of sanctions and other stringent measures by the
United States of America. Pakistan can now verily be rated among independent nations that have the ability to decide their fate by themselves in the best interest of the people. This was already
expected since the PPP government draws strength from the masses and from Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s philosophy that ‘people are the fountain of power’. However, some media persons as well as jealous opponents have continued to work day and night to paint the incumbent Pakistani leadership as obsequious leaders who do the foreign masters’ bidding. The detractors forgot to take notice of one important factor that a government elected by the masses and committed to the masses’ welfare just can’t afford to follow the dictates of external powers. It is just beyond them.

Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had given the good news, days back and his government has been endeavouring for quite some time to remove the bottlenecks and put the IP project on a fast-track. After the government of Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had paved the way for smooth takeoff of the project, the added strength and impetus came from President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to Iran where he had a meeting with his counterpart, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. During this high profile meeting, it was agreed upon to complete the pipeline project in a period of 15 months. A very encouraging statement was given on this occasion by Ayatollah Khamenei who stated that the project should continue despite hostilities.

President Zardari’s Iran visit should rather be taken as a big, practical step towards the finalization of IP gas pipeline project. One of the fruits of this visit is the formation of a joint (Iran-Pakistan) contracting company that will complete the pipeline’s construction within the next one-and-a-quarter year.

If one were to evaluate the overall performance of Pakistan People’s Party during its different tenures, the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project is yet another landmark after Pakistan Steel Mills, Old Age Benefit Scheme and nuclear programme.

In fact, progress as well as empowerment of the masses is the hallmark of Pakistan People’s Party that has also boosted the people’s morale by pushing the IP gas project forward without getting deterred. The decision-making abilities of President Asif Ali Zardari and PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf have also been acknowledged through the length and breadth of the country and among all prominent sectors of national life, including intelligentsia. Those who have closely watched the two dignitaries’ functioning, have also appreciated the diplomatic finesse with which the PPP government seniors have pursued the IP matter. As a result of this diplomatic finesse, the American pressure appears to have subsided, as lately declared by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar. If that is the case, that is another success of the sitting government. The success is thus two-fold which means on one hand, it would rid the country of gas shortage and energy deficiency and on the other hand, it would provide a sense of self-esteem and dignity to the Pakistani citizenry.

It is also noteworthy that the top leaders in Pakistan government had good information about such deals and they knew well that India and China too import oil from Iran without being subjected to any sanctions from US or any other country of the West, Turkey also playing a role in these deals in the money transfer area.

Those who are presenting a false picture of the present government, should now say goodbye, once for all, to negative rumour-mongering. Instead, they should let the Pakistani nation enter the era of prosperity with dignity, confidence and peace of mind.