Rs 1.3 trillion spent on uplift projects in three years: Gilani

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday said his government has spent Rs1.3 trillion on development projects during the last three years across the country. Speaking in National Assembly, Gilani said he has directed the finance ministry to release Rs1 billion, to resume work on Lowari Tunnel project, terming it as extremely important.
He said the details regarding Rs1.3 trillion development projects will be furnished to the House soon. "I have recently discussed the five mega projects including Lowari Tunnel with all stakeholders and directed them to give it top priority, adding that the government has given one-line budget to these projects."
The Prime Minister said the National Highway Authority has been directed to expedite work on mega highway projects. The finance ministry has committed to providing Rs 1 billion to the National Highway Authority to start work on new projects. Munir Orakzai, a member from Fata expressed concern, saying that not even 10 percent of the total development fund, allocated in PSDP for development projects in Fata, has been released.
Another FATA MNA Akhunzada Chattan said the implementation on the reforms in FCR was not made. He said the government should take steps to implement on the reformed in FCR. Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan told the House that the organisation has launched a bilingual website in English and Urdu providing the latest news and information to people. She said video streaming on its website has also been made available on special occasions and it will be made a permanent feature. She said ageing transmitters of Radio Pakistan are being replaced with modern medium wave transmitters in different cities.
The minister informed the House that on the special directives of President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani, Pakistan Television (PTV) is launching a sports channel by December to promote sports activities in the country. She said launching of Pakistan Television (PTV) sports channel is imperative, as it would also be increased owing to telecast of sports events such as Cricket World Cup, hockey and football.
She said Pakistan Television (PTV) is being digitalised to equip the channel with latest technology and compete with other private channels. The process of digitalisation of PTV would be completed by December 2012, she added. She said PTV Global is also being overhauled in order to project the true image of the country abroad. Entertainment component of PTV Global would be enhanced to provide more recreation to its viewers, she added.
"The Pakistan Television (PTV) is effectively safeguarding ideological and geographical borders of the country and efforts are being made to make it mouthpiece of people's aspirations," she added. She dispelled the impression that Pakistan Television (PTV) is mouthpiece of the government, saying that it has been completely changed and giving equal coverage to the opposition parties. "The opposition parties plead their parties' stance on Pakistan Television (PTV) current affairs programmes," she added.