PM approves Rs1bn additional fund for bridge over Indus

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday approved an additional fund of Rs1 billion for the construction of Khushal Garh Bridge over Indus River.

Talking to a group of Parliamentarians, Prime Minister Gilani said his government accords priority to completion of communication linkages across the country for speedy transfer of goods and services, besides generating economic activity and creating job opportunities in the underdeveloped areas of the country.

Talking to parliamentarians, Senator Abbas Khan Afridi, MNA Sumaira Malik and PML (N) MNA Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Prime Minister Gilani said political dialogue, decency and accommodation of other's point of view were essential to strengthen the democratic institutions and promotion of democratic culture in the society.

He pointed that it was second time after Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's government when any democratically elected government has been able to present its fourth budget in the National Assembly.

"It was because of the government's reconciliatory as well as democratic policies and practices”, he said.

Talking to Senator Abbas Khan Afridi, the Prime Minister approved the Rs1 billion additional fund to meet the shortfall for construction of the Khushal Garh Bridge. He said the government was working on the possibilities for setting up of medium and small industry through private, public partnership in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, with an objective of bringing prosperity.

Prime Minister Gilani said completion of Ghulam Khan Road connecting southern areas of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Afghanistan would also open new opportunities for promotion of trade.

Senator Abbas Khan Afridi apprised the Prime Minister about the progress of development projects launched by the federal government in FATA.

He requested before the Prime Minister to expedite the process for establishment of IT Universities and Cadet Colleges already announced by him.

The Senator also discussed the possibility of enhancement of quota in the Engineering and Medical Colleges for students belonging to tribal areas.

He said diversion of poverty alleviation schemes towards FATA, that has been badly affected due to TTP terrorist activities, would greatly benefit the people. He also discussed the overall law and order situation in the FATA region.

MNA Sumaira Malik called on the Prime Minister and invited him to visit Khushab for inauguration of development schemes launched by the federal government. She asked the Prime Minister to direct the concerned departments for early release of funds earmarked for supply of gas and electricity in her constituency.

She also discussed development projects of her constituency.

MNA belonging to PML (N) Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry called on the Prime Minister and expressed his gratitude for allocation of funds to all the Parliamentarians irrespective of their Party affiliation.

He requested before the Prime Minister to allocate special fund for the construction of Khikar Road connecting Toba Tek Singh with Pir Mahal.

The Parliamentarians also discussed the overall political situation during their meetings with the Prime Minister.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011