960413

Budgetary

allocation doubled

for rapid

development: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on Saturday reiterated that the development of the country would remain number one priority of her government.

Talking to several MNAs and MPAs from different parts of the country who met her here at the PM House, she said the development work was going on throughout the country without any discrimination. The neglected and far-flung areas are being brought at par with the developed areas, she added.

The government, she said, has increased the budgetary allocation for rapid development of the country. She hoped that the public representatives would extend helping hand to the federal and provincial governments for having accelerated development and to improve the socio-economic life of the people.

The representatives apprised the Prime Minister about the pace of on-going development work and other problems of the people in their respective constituencies.

The Prime Minister assured them that their suggestions for socio-economic uplift would be given due consideration and necessary directions to the relevant agencies would be issued for this purpose.

Those who called on her included Niaz Ahmed Jakhar, Parliamentary Secretary for sports, Bishop Ruffin Julius MNA, Malik Nazir Utora Punjab Minister for Social Welfare, Abdul Qadir Shaheen, advisor for labour to Chief Minister Punjab and Haji Rehmatullah Bahn, ex-MNA.

The MPAs who met the Prime Minister were: Chaudhry Mohammad Zaheeruddin Khan (Faisalabad), Ali Hasan Raza Qazi (Chaniot), Rana Sohail Ahmed Noon (Shujjabad), Pir Abbas Mohiuddin (Attock), Tariq Tarar (Mandi Bhahuddin) and Rana Afzal Khan (Sheikhupura).-APP