Rs 700 billion earmarked for rural areas' facelift

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that PPP led government has set aside more than Rs 700 billion for the fist time for the face lifting of rural areas of the country. Addressing a public meeting here on Friday she said the step has been taken for banishing the backwardness and to bring rural areas at equal footings with the developed parts of the country.
Under the programme special attention would be accorded on the construction of roads and bridges for the improvement of means of communication, she said. The Information Minister said the basic concept of this programme was to minimise the difference between rural and urban areas of the country adding that all basic facilities including the provision of Sui gas would be ensured in these ignored and far-off rural areas of the country.
Dr Firdous said the government was utilising all available resources for the development of rural and urban parts for bringing prosperity and to address the people's problems on top priority basis without any discrimination across the country. She said it was very unfortunate that rural areas were totally ignored in the past on the basis of liking and disliking but the peoples government was committed to bring revolutionary changes in every sphere of life in the country.
Government had focused attention on resolving the longstanding problems on top priority basis and many steps had already been taken in this direction she said. The Minister said that scarifies rendered by Kashmiris for the liberation of their motherland would be remembered all times to come.
In order to give practical shape to the liberation movement initiated by Kashmiris, the establishment of PPP government in Azad Kashmir had become imperative for the purpose. The establishment of PPP government in AJK would help in highlighting Kashmir issue at various international forums and contribution of Shaheed Z. A Bhutto in projecting Kashmir issue, she said. She was of the opinion that stable and strong Peoples Party government in AJK is need of the hour for ensuring right of self-determination. Later, the federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan inaugurated Sui gas and electricity projects in village Dhallewali near Head Marla.