Addressing a large public gathering here after the ground breaking ceremony of over Rs 1.5 billion Khushhal Garh Bridge to connect Punjab with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) over River Indus, he appreciated the announcement of a hydel power project by the provincial government.
The prime minister acknowledged the shortage of power in the country and said effective measures were being taken to address the issue.
He said the federation has asked the provinces to set up power generating units on their own and expressed the hope that it would help to overcome the growing power demand, besides creating employment opportunities.
He said the government has increased power generation by 1000 MW annually, since it came into power and hoped increased capacity would benefit the national industry.
Gilani said that eight percent of country's gas and petroleum needs were being met from this area and hoped the bridge would help increase transportation of petroleum products and goods and services.
He said construction of the bridge at Kund was a long standing demand of the people and it would reduce distance by 80 km to the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA from Punjab, and provide alternative routes.
The Prime Minister lauded the people of the province for rendering innumerable sacrifices in their fight against extremism and terrorism and for protecting the country against such elements who were bent upon damaging the country. He saluted the people of the province for their courage and determination to root out extremism.
Prime Minister Gilani assured the people that the government would utilise all its resources for rebuilding of the infrastructure that has been damaged due to the unprecedented floods and vowed to build it better.
He said the province had been provided unprecedented funds and an era of development and prosperity has ushered in. He said under the National Finance Commission Award, the KPK province has been given huge funds for development.
He said the opponents of the government were making false claims of doing the impossible, but said the people had seen them in the past and know the reality. He said the government with the help of the people would transform the country and bring all amenities of life to the under developed areas.
Gilani said all these measures had unnerved the opponents of the government who were levelling baseless allegations against the government, just to get more seats in the Senate. He said the current government came into power with the votes of the people and said he was proud to be the first unanimously elected prime minister of the country.
He said he sought guidance from the vision of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
He said in the remaining last two years of government's tenure, new mega projects would be launched with the cooperation of the provinces and the federation to generate employment and speed up the pace of development.
He also announced provision of natural gas at Tall, to meet the long standing demand of the people.
Prime Minister Gilani said the Pakistan wants friendly and cordial relations with all neighbors, including Afghanistan, India and Iran, which is imperative for the socio-economic development of the region.
He said the resources would be spent on the development of masses, adding, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had empowered people and the government is committed to bring revolution through collective efforts with public support.
The Prime Minister said the government had given identity to the people of Khyber-Pakthunkhwa, while the NFC Award and provincial autonomy to provinces were the big achievement of the present regime.
Gilani said that the provincial autonomy was the major demand of the small provinces and the government has fulfilled it.
Paying tributes to people of Khyber-Pakthunkhwa and law enforcement agencies for their brave resolve and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and militancy, the Prime Minister said such example could hardly be found in the world's history.
The sacrifices by the people and the security forces today have saved the future of the country, he said and added the government was committed to enhancement of the capacity building of the security forces of KPK.
The Prime Minister assured the people that the natural resources explored would be given to the local community falling within five kilometers radius on priority.
The people of Kohat played key role in the creation of Pakistan and "we do expect the same role in bigger perspective in the stability of Pakistan".
Khushal Garh Bridge will give boom to the economic activity in the KPK, Fata and Punjab being located at the confluence of the KPK-Punjab provinces.
The function was addressed among others by Governor KPK Barrister Masood Kausar, Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, Federal Minister Dr. Arbab Alamgir, Senator Abbas Afridi, and MNA Pir Dilawar Shah.
Tribal elder Shamim Afridi presented a traditional turban to the Prime Minister, on behalf of the people of Kohat, while Provincial Minister Amjad Afridi gifted a carpet.
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011