Pakistani PM assures on time elections in last cabinet meeting

Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf Wednesday assured on time and transparent parliamentary elections in his address to the last meeting of the cabinet. The government will complete its five-year constitutional term on March 16 and ministers say that the assemblies will be dissolved on the same day. A caretaker government will be installed to hold elections within two months under the constitution. "We are now heading towards elections. It is the government's strong conviction that free fair and transparent elections are essential for democracy, security and development of the country," Prime Minister Ashraf told the cabinet in his speech which was emailed to the media later. The government and the opposition are in the process of consultations to agree on a consensus name for the caretaker prime minister. The main opposition party has proposed three names for the post. The government has not yet disclosed its names. The Prime Minister said the government has taken the opposition into confidence regarding the appointment of caretaker prime minister. Besides internal issues, he also referred to the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, and said his government had pursued several options to resolve the energy crisis. He said the Iran gas line will not only boost the economies of both countries but also bring prosperity to the entire region. "You are aware that our government inherited many problems, one of the conspicuous among them was the energy crisis. We have been working on multiple fronts to achieve energy security for the country. The government has, therefore, formally kicked off the long awaited 7.5 billion U.S. dollars Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project aimed at addressing the energy crisis in Pakistan," the Prime Minister said. President Asif Ali Zardari and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad officially inaugurated construction of the Iran-Pakistan Pipeline Project in a ceremony held at the Iranian border region on March 11 where the Pakistani section of the pipeline starts. "Let me say that given the importance of energy resources for our economy, the project would be completed on an expeditious basis in the national interest of Pakistan," Pervez Ashraf said.