PM optimistic about meeting with Singh

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Friday ruled out the division of Punjab into further provinces and said the country could not afford such venture at the present challenging times.
Talking to media persons after presiding over a convocation at a girls college here, the Prime Minister said, We cannot afford to have more provinces. It would be like opening up a Pandoras box.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is against creation of a new province because it is tantamount to destabilising Pakistan. There are four provinces and would remain four, he made it loud and clear. He said the country was facing difficult internal and external challenges and urged the politicians not to invoke such ideas to further add to the problems.
He said that the formation of further provinces required constitutional amendment, which did not seem possible at the moment. It is the responsibility of the government and everyone to strengthen the Federation and not to destabilise it, he said.
About his possible meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the upcoming summit of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt, this month, the Prime Minister hoped that the outcome would be positive. He said the meeting would be an opportunity to strengthen the relations and remove the misconceptions between the two countries. Pakistan wants to maintain friendly relations with all its neighbours including India and Afghanistan, he added.
About the ongoing operation in Malakand division, Gilani said the success achieved in securing the area from terrorists was a result of enormous sacrifices laid down by the Pakistan Army. We did not secure the area for free. It was due to our jawans who were martyred while fighting bravely, he said.
Gilani said after the completion of the operation, military cantonments would be established and capacity of law enforcement agencies would be enhanced.
When asked to confirm reports regarding Fazlullahs injury in an attack, the Prime Minister said it would be better to ask the Interior Minister this question.
When asked about possible influx of Taliban into Pakistans territory after US forces operation in Afghanistans Helmand province, the Prime Minister said the government would take all possible measures not to let anyone destabilise the country.
Accompanying the Prime Minister, State Minister for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar clarified a news report regarding the implementation of Carbon surcharge after the approval of Prime Minister. She said the Carbon surcharge was a part of finance bill and its implementation was an automatic process after cabinets passage of the budget, which had nothing to do with the Prime Ministers directives.