ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Friday that the present government during the past two years has taken several steps to address major problems faced by the federation.

Addressing a post-budget seminar arranged by the National Press Club, Kaira said in the past Pakistan remained a state with more powers to the centre which weakened the federation and resulted in dismemberment of the country in 1971.

“Since coming into power, the present government has been following the policy of reconciliation to promote the culture of tolerance and strengthen the democratic institutions,” he added.

He appreciated the role of the opposition in getting rid of confrontational politics.

The minister said the present government has taken effective political, administrative and fiscal steps to empower the provinces, ending their sense of deprivation.

Elaborating major achievements of the PPP-led coalition government, Kaira said the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) award, Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package and the 18th amendment were prominent steps towards provincial autonomy and improve living standard of the common man.

He said,”We do not claim that all the problems of the country have been resolved but we have given a clear road-map in this regard.”

He expressed the resolve that the government would ensure true implementation of the decisions made for the devolution of power, adding that this was a test case not only for the ruling-parties but also the entire government machinery.

Kaira said the government did not hide anything from the masses in the federal budget for the year 2010-11 and put before them details of “all resources and problems”.

While responding to questions from media persons he said for achieving cheap energy “we are working on hydel and coal projects but these projects would take at least six years to complete”.

Kaira said that for meeting the energy shortfall for that period, we had to opt for thermal plants and the electricity generated through this means was costly.

About the power devolution to the provinces after 18th Amendment, he said that this process would take one year, and demands of the provinces would be discussed at the meetings of Implementation Commission.