Mr. Zahiruddin: Abul Mansur's speech is bearing fruit.
Mr. Abu! Mansur Ahmad: After my speech?
Some Honorable Members: No, no (Laughter).
The Honorable Mr. Mohammad Ali: Much earlier.
Mr. Zahiruddin: It is after that speech that we have heard about this Rs.40 lakhs. His Excellency Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani: This is unearned credit.
The Honorable Mr. Mohammad Ali: It was over a month ago or so that I had passed orders about Rs.40 lakhs.
Honourable Deputy Speaker: He was drafting his speech at the time; (Laughter).
The Honourable Mr. Mohammad Ali: Sir, I have given an indication of the firm determination of this Government to do everything possible to develop East Pakistan economically and to do everything that lies in our power, so that East Pakistan may play its due part in the Defense Services.
One incidental advantage I might mention of the unification of West Pakistan is that it has reduced five Provinces to two. Previously, East Pakistan was one of five Provinces and therefore, was competing in demands with the five Provincial Governments. Today. with only, two Provincial Governments, inevitably the demands of East Pakistan and West Pakistan must receive equal consideration. (Hear, hear).
Mr. Abul Mansur Ahmad: With Capital in one.
The Honorable Mr. Mohammad Ali: This aspect of the matter may not be present to the minds of the members of but it is an evitable consequences and I think it is a good consequence of the unification of West Pakistan.
Mr. Zahiruddin: Just put down parity in the Constitution-honestly.
The Honorable Mr. Mohammad Ali: Now about Services. I have referred already to the fact that at the time of partition, there were very few officers from Bengal. The policy followed since then has been to recruit on the basis of 20 per cent.-I am talking of the Central Services-20 per cent, on merit; 40 per cent from East Pakistan; 40 per cent from West Pakistan, and the results are that in most of the Superior services today where the ratio was same where near zero at the time of Partition, it ranges from 20 to 25 percent now.
In the Central Secretariat itself, taking Under Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries, East Pakistan officers from about 25 per cent of the total and I am taking special steps to increase the representation of East Pakistan officers in the Central Secretariat. I have no doubt in my mind that within, say, seven years or so, this problem will be forgotten.
Mr. Zahiruddin: We hope you will be there.
