PM assures security of national assets in Pakistan
Pakistan Times National News Desk

ISLAMABAD: A delegation from Balochistan led by Sardar Yar Mohammed Rind, Minister of States and Frontier Regions, called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here on Saturday and apprised him on the situation in the province.

The delegation informed the Prime Minister that representatives of Army, Navy, Air Force and Frontier Constabulary played a pivotal role and provided all-out support in relief operation.

The Prime Minister talking to the delegation said Government promptly responded to the situation caused by rains in Balochistan and has co-opted the services of Air Force and Navy.

He said C-130 aircraft are being used to send tents, blankets, food supplies and medicines to the affected areas and helicopters are dropping the supplies to inaccessible areas.

The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts made by law enforcing agencies and reiterated that national assets would be protected at all costs. He said that damage to an asset is not only loss to Balochistan but also to the whole country.

Shaukat Aziz emphasised that the benefits of growth in the economy should be reaped by the common man.

Jam on Developments

Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Yousaf has said that the government would not tolerate any hurdle in the way of implementation of the uplift schemes and establishment of good-governance.

Speaking at a meeting held here Saturday under his chairmanship, he pledged not to allow any body to put the interests of the province at stake. The meeting reviewed the progress in national project of lining water channels and ponds.

The Chief Minister expressed dismay over the slow pace of work on the project and strictly directed the concerned officials to ensure completion of the project within the scheduled time.

The federal government has allocated a huge amount for this project on the special directive of President Musharraf with the aim to ensure economic use of available water reserves and prevent its wastage, he informed.

“The project is of vital importance for the promotion of agricultural sector in Balochistan and no negligence would be tolerated in this regard”, he warned.

The meeting took several decisions to resolve the problems confronting the implementation of the project and approved appointments on the vacant seats, provision of necessary facilities to project management unit and nomination of consultants at the earliest.

Earlier, briefing the meeting, the Project Director informed that under this project 13466 water channels and ponds would be lined in next five year in the province with an estimated cost of Rs 5,060.900 million.

A target of lining of 1,736 water channels and ponds has been fixed for the first year, he added.

Finance Minister Syed Ehsan Shah, Chief Secretary Maj. (Retd) Muhammad Naeem, Additional Chief Secretary Development Maj. (Retd) Nadir Ali, Secretaries of the relevant departments and other concerned officials attended the meeting.●