Govt set to raise living standard of people in Pakistan: PM
Pakistan Times National News Desk

OKARA: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Monday the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) government would deal with those elements with iron hands, who are nurturing anti-Pakistan thoughts and vowed to protect country’s sovereignty at all cost.

“PML is the only party ushering the country into economic-social progress under the wise and dynamic leadership of President Gen Musharraf and party President Ch Shujaat Hussain”, the Prime Minister added. He was speaking at two different public meetings at Dipalpur and Okara.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated the wheat crop harvesting at the form of Federal Parliamentary Secretary Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan. Speaking at Dipalpur meeting, he said, “if someone speaks ill of Pakistan, it hits the sentiments of PML and if he thinks of strengthening the country, it strengthens the State and Muslim world as a whole,” the Prime Minister pointed out.

Call to Workers

The PM urged the league workers to cast vote in coming local bodies polls in favour of their true representatives who work for the betterment for Pakistan and the Muslim world. He urged the ruling party’s parliamentarians to help each other and the PML government in continuing the development activities to make Pakistan as progressive state.

The Prime Minister informed the government would announce the re-starting of ‘Khushal Pakistan’ in coming weeks aimed at providing gas, clean drinking water and road network in all parts of the country including tehsil Dipalpur.

Aziz said the agricultural polices and packages announced by the government were producing positive results adding provision of agricultural loans, seeds, fertilizers and agro-medicines were also being improved.

Wheat Production

He informed the participants of the meeting that wheat production would exceed 22 million tonnes thus setting record in Pakistan’s history while Rs 400 per 40 kg wheat price would be offered to cultivators.

He said the government was doing all possible efforts to raise living standard of the masses by improving educational, judicial and police system in the country. The Prime Minister was of the view that the present government was the first in the political history of the country, which filled national exchequer.

The PM said, as a result of strenuous efforts of the farmers, the production of potato and corn has also shown a sizable upward trend, he added.

Shaukat Aziz said “government will adopt every measure to improve the lot of the farmers and raise their standard of life besides ensuring improved infrastructure and better system where their children can get better education and other amenities of life”.

He said he was pleased to note that a large number of women were also present in the meeting who have great role to play in the society.

He said present government had attached great importance to the welfare of women. It had brought them in the mainstream of political life and treating them at par with males, he said.

Recalling the role of the Pakistan Muslim League, the Prime Minister said it is the party which founded the country under the able and dynamic leadership of the Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah after offering unprecedented sacrifices.

“Our party will safeguard national integrity and security and strenthen unity and solidarity. No one would be allowed to cast an evil eye on the country”, he announced amidst slogans of Pakistan Zindabad and Shaukat Aziz Zindabad.

“We want to make Pakistan a dynamic, moderate and forward looking country,” he said.

Role of Women

Regarding women’s role, he said the government considered the women’s participation in the society important, saying no society could make progress without their active participation.

The Prime Minister announced establishment of Agriculture College, provision of gas to eight villages, electricity to eighty villages including one grid station and completion of sports stadium in tehsil Dipalpur.

Moderate Country

While, speaking at a public meeting at Jinnah Park in Okara, Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan will be made a moderate country along with developing socio-economic sectors under the vision of President Musharraf.

The Prime Minister said that President General Pervez Musharraf had a vision of developing Pakistan into a more dynamic and moderate nation.

“The government is committed to provide basic facilities of good education and health to the masses”, Aziz said. He said Federal Defense Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal was an important pillar of the govt and the government appreciated his services for developing Okara district.

The Prime Minister announced Rs 50 million for sewerage and potable water, establishment of University of Education and construction of Sikandar and Akbar roads in Okara.

Later, he inaugurated Kalsoom Hospital and school in Okara. The hospital and the school have been established with the financial assistance of federal government and Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoom.

Speaking at the Dipalur meeting, Chief Minister Punjab Ch Pervaiz Elahi linked the provision of development schemes to the legislators with the membership target they would achieve in their respective constituencies.

He urged the activists to prepare actively for upcoming local bodies elections in the wake of possibility of joint candidates fielded by the MMA, PML [N] and PPPP against the PML.

The CM also announced construction of bridge on Loyar Bari Doab near Renala Khurd, a girl high school, allocation of Rs 20 million for DPS Boys High School, ambulances for Dibalpur Hospital, Rs 1 million for Dibalpur Press Club and Distrcit Bar Association on the occasion.

Defense Minister Rao Sikanadar Iqbal, Governor Punjab Lt Gen (Retd) Khalid Maqbool, Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Petroleum and Natural Resources Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan, Punjab Minister for Housing Syed Raza Gillani and others also spoke on the occasion.●