Azerbaijan, Baku, 11 September / Trend news corr. D.Ibrahimova / Stabilization of economic state in Pakistan should be the major priority of new President Asif Ali Zerdari.
"The policies the new government must follow some of Mush's strategies, public and private initiatives, de-regulation, the building of infrastructure and emphasis on exports," Vernon Hewitt, a British expert believes.
On 6 September, Zerdari was elected president of Pakistan and inauguration ceremony took place on 9 September. There is economic crisis in the country, as well as Taliban radical movement continues its activity in the territory of the country as earlier. Struggle with them is one of main points of new President's program.
According to Hewitt, Zerdari is likely to maintain a pro-western, pro-US strategy, risky in the short term, but aimed at completing economic reforms to repair and extend Pakistan's chronically neglected infrastructure.
"The KEY issue though, as always with Pakistan, is how the political system and the competing areas of power within the state and society cooperate with any new economic program," Hewitt, a lecturer of Bristol University told Trend .
According to Abdul Hay Anis, a Pakistani expert, everybody expects Zerdari to normalize economy of the country.
" Pakistan has very difficult economic state and the highest level of poverty. The country hopes that Zerdari can settle this problem," the political scientist said.
According to Anis, the world will see how new Pakistani President will cooperate with pro-government and opposition parties.
"Although Zerdari was elected president lately, he has allies at the Pakistani National Party, which will assist him in removal of economic crisis," the expert said.
According to Hewitt, any real success in dealing with militancy is in fact dealing with the economy - as your next question implies.
"Islamist movements tend to decline during periods of economic growth, and many people grow tired of a movement that does not provide immediate answers to schools, housing and job shortages," the expert said..
According to Anis, the Pakistani political scientist, first, the new President should cooperate with the Pakistani Government and different parties of the country.
"Solution of this problem is directly connected with success of struggle against Taliban movement and terrorism, especially in tribal region," the expert thinks.
Pakistan's ex-president Musharraf struggled with Taliban movement blaming it for backwardness and terrorism and whilst achieved rather doubtful successes.
According to Hewitt, Zerdari faces the same problems: domestic instability and the complex foreign/regional policy legacy of the army - so it is difficult to see how his policies can be any more successful than his predecessor,"-the British expert Hewitt thinks.
According to the British expert, Zerdari they may be more successful because he is notionally independent of the army, they may be less successful because the army retains significant degrees of autonomy in the foreign policy area.
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