VZCZCXRO8960
OO RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #1376/01 0911255
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 311255Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6226
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 8369
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 7587
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3043
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 9414
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 5185
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 3902
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ISLAMABAD 001376 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL
SUBJECT: MUSHARRAF SWEARS IN 24 MINISTERS; PRIME MINISTER 
ANNOUNCES 100-DAY PLAN 
 
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 1355 
     ¶B. ISLAMABAD 1330 
 
¶1. (U) Summary. On March 29, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousef 
Raza Gillani announced his "100 Day Plan" to the National 
Assembly.  Within his plan, he looks to assist the lagging 
economy, continue to fight terror, strengthen Pakistan's ties 
with its neighbors and the West, restore the judiciary, and 
remove the remaining restraints on the media.  He also 
established new guidelines for government officials, giving 
more oversight to the actions of the government while curbing 
unnecessary spending.  Finally, on March 31, President 
Musharraf swore in 24 ministers.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) On March 31, President Pervez Musharraf swore in the 
first tranche of cabinet members for Prime Minister Yousef 
Raza Gillani.  Although only 24 ministers took the oath, the 
cabinet size is expected to swell to 70 members.  In today's 
ceremony, eleven ministers from the Pakistan People's Party 
(PPP), nine ministers from the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz 
(PML-N), two ministers from the Awami National Party (ANP), 
one minister from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), and one 
minister from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) 
were administered the oath. (Ref. A) 
 
¶3. (U) On March 29, Prime Minister Gillani addressed the 
National Assembly to announce the "100-Day Plan" of the 
ruling coalition partners after securing an unprecedented 
unanimous vote of confidence by the ruling body. Noting that 
terrorism, the economy, and education are still Pakistan's 
biggest issues, Gillani's plan took aim at many of President 
Musharraf's current mandates while paying tribute to the late 
Benazir Bhutto. 
 
Restoration of the Judiciary 
---------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) The Prime Minister committed to restoring those judges 
removed by the November 3 proclamation of emergency and 
refused to take the oath under Musharraf's Provisional 
Constitution Order.  In accordance with the Charter of 
Democracy and the Murree Declaration, Gillani promised to 
restore the deposed judges and to ensure the independence of 
the judiciary; however, no details were announced as to how 
or when the restoration would actually take place. 
 
War on Terror 
------------- 
 
¶5. (U) Gillani reminded the National Assembly that the "war 
on terror is our own war," and he noted that ensuring peace 
in the country and eradication of terrorism will be a top 
priority for his administration.  To assist in this effort, 
he promised special funding packages for the tribes in order 
to reduce poverty and illiteracy.  Madrassa reform was also 
discussed as the Madrassa Welfare Authority will be created 
in order to implement standard curriculum, registration, and 
oversight. 
 
Media Freedom 
------------- 
 
¶6. (U) The Prime Minister promised to remove any restraints 
on the press and to do away with the "black laws," including 
the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulation Authority (PEMRA) 
Ordinance that was enacted after the November 3 proclamation 
of emergency. PEMRA is also to be placed under the Ministry 
of Information and Broadcasting with a change in its rules 
and mandates for better oversight. 
 
Electricity 
----------- 
 
¶7. (U) Although he acknowledged the electricity crisis would 
likely worsen before it improved, Gillani described plans for 
new power plants to be built to overcome the electricity 
shortage, generating at least 2,200 megawatts by the end of 
the year.  In addition, an energy saving campaign will be 
launched to save 500 megawatts this year to control 
load-shedding.  Finally, unnecessary lighting on public 
buildings during holidays will be banned to further conserve 
 
ISLAMABAD 00001376  002 OF 003 
 
 
power. 
 
Economy 
------- 
 
¶8. (U) In order to address the lagging economy, the Prime 
Minister announced several initiatives.  First, wheat 
subsidies will be increased from Rs 510 (USD 8.14) to Rs 625 
(USD 9.98) per 40 kilograms of wheat in order to provide 
relief to the struggling farmers.  To further strengthen the 
country's agriculture sector, Gillani assured his listeners 
that strict measures would be taken to eliminate crop 
hoarding and smuggling while a crop insurance plan would be 
launched.   Finally, higher quality seeds and cheaper 
fertilizer would now also be available. 
 
¶9. (U) To address the country's growing homelessness problem, 
the Prime Minister pledged to give 5-marla plots 
(approximately 2600 square feet) in rural areas and flats or 
80 square yard plots in the urban centers to the homeless. 
One million housing units will be constructed annually, and 
new policies to revitalize the "slums" will be enacted. Also, 
government employees would be given better residential 
facilities, and the GOP would attempt to give each retired 
government employee a house or flat. 
 
¶10. (U) An Employment Commission will also be created to plan 
for jobs in private and official sectors.  Within this 
commission, a Literacy and Health Corporation will be 
established to provide student employment for the first two 
years after graduation.  To further address the employment 
issue in the poorer districts, a National Employment Scheme 
was announced, which would provide employment to at least one 
member of every family.  The minimum wage will be increased 
from Rs 4000 (USD 63.87) to Rs 6000 (USD 95.80) a month. 
Trade and student unions will also be reinstated. 
 
Foreign Policy and Kashmir 
-------------------------- 
 
¶11. (U) The Prime Minister wants to strengthen Pakistan's 
standing in the world and wants to develop good relations 
with its neighboring countries, primarily with China. 
Pakistan also wants to assist in bringing peace to 
Afghanistan, and Gillani wants stronger ties with the Islamic 
world, the European Union, and the United States.  He also 
announced that confidence-building measures with India will 
not proceed without tangible progress on the issue of 
Kashmir, noting that the sacrifices of Pakistan's Kashmiri 
brethren will not be forgotten. 
 
Austerity Drive 
---------------- 
 
¶12. (U) In order to ensure better checks and balances for all 
government employees, the Prime Minister announced an 
"austerity drive," starting with slashing the budget of the 
Prime Minister's House by 40 percent.  In addition, all 
serving military personnel would be called back from civil 
institutions, further separating the military from the 
government.  Cabinet members will not be allowed to use 
vehicles that have engines larger than 1600 cubic centimeters 
(cc). Special counters at airports and business class travel 
for parliamentarians will also be banned to remove the "VIP 
culture." Concurrent lists would be abolished within twelve 
months in order to provide greater autonomy to the provinces 
bringing provincial rights more in line with the 
Constitution.  The public will now have access to meetings of 
the Public Accounts Committee, and Gillani introduced a Prime 
Minister's Question Hour in the National Assembly where he 
will answer questions posed by the representatives. 
 
¶13. (U) Gillani also pledged to abolish two government 
entities: the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the 
Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR).  As for the NAB, Gillani 
said this agency created by Musharraf after his military coup 
in 1999 "has miserably failed to perform its functions and is 
being used for political motives."  Therefore, the cases 
within the NAB will be decided in normal courts.  As for the 
FCR, Gillani said it was also to be abolished since it was 
not alleviating the problems plaguing the Federally 
 
ISLAMABAD 00001376  003 OF 003 
 
 
Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).  In its place, Gillani said 
that a two-member committee would decide how to implement the 
various FATA-funding packages. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶14. (SBU) Comment. Many of the proposals within the Prime 
Minister's "100 Day Plan" sound good on paper and reflect 
legitimate priorities, but implementation will be the true 
test for this coalition government.  Given the enormous 
challenges facing Pakistan on economic, fiscal and security 
fronts, it remains to be seen how much of Gillani's ambitious 
plan - such as increasing subsidies and building a million 
housing units - is feasible in the short term for 
cash-strapped Pakistan.  End comment. 
 
BODDE