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Press should

gauge govt's

functioning,

policies: Wattoo

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo has said that political stability was vital for economic development and attracting foreign investments in Pakistan.

Addressing the oath taking ceremony of the office-bearers of the Lahore Press Club on Saturday evening, the chief minister said that the Press had played an important role in strengthening democracy despite various problems it had to face. He said that Press and politics being intrinsically linked together, a strong Press could bring about revolutionary changes in democratic society.

Wattoo said that democracy in Pakistan was at the stage of infancy and the Press should keep a critical eye on government functioning and policies, and pinpoint any loopholes and deficiencies. He said that political stability was the need of the hour, which could remove economic problems besides attracting foreign investment.

The chief minister said that PDF alliance had been flourishing for the last two years and he was quite "optimistic" about its future. He gave a brief account of PDF government's achievements like the ban on the display of arms, due priority to education sector, provision of 50,000 jobs and proprietary rights to the shelterless in the rural areas.

PLOTS FOR NEWSMEN

Wattoo also announced setting up of another housing colony for working journalists of the provincial metropolis.

The chief minister said that the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) would provide 200 to 250 kanals of land for allotment of plots to journalists who did not possess their own houses.

He said that the development charges of the journalists residential colony will be borne by the provincial government. He asked the journalist community to set up a committee for deciding the modus-operendi and announced nomination of Provincial Information Secretary (by designation) Badrul Islam on this committee to coordinate between the government, LDA and the journalists.