Poverty, unemployment real issues of Pakistan: Benazir
Web posted at: 2/19/2006 3:41:44
Source ::: The Peninsula

Doha: Unemployment, poverty and a severe lack of basic amenities such as health care and safe drinking water are the real issues facing Pakistan, says the country's former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto (pictured right).

A star delegate at the ongoing fourth US-Islamic world forum, Benazir told this newspaper yesterday that she was determined to help her party regain its lost glory.

"We have been struggling against the military regime (of General Pervez Musharraf)," she said.

Benazir, daughter of the late and charismatic Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, is chairperson of Pakistan's People's Party (PPP) and has been her country's premier twice.

She recalled how her father waged similar struggle against former military rulers like Ayyub Khan, Yahya Khan and Zia Ul Haq.

Talking of Pakistan, she said of particular concern to her was a severe lack of basic facilities like health care and safe drinking water.

The fact that safe drinking water was not made available to her poor compatriots exposed them to deadly diseases like hepatitis, she said.

Asked about the progress Pakistan was making on the economic front since General Pervez Musharraf took over reins, she said (external) debts were "rescheduled and a lot of money was squandered". Debts had not been repaid

The present regime in Pakistan was not feeling the heat since it was a key ally of the west in the war on terror.

Benazir said she was in Doha for the second time. "I am here after four years and I see a lot of changes around," she said.