January 12, 2003	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 8, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 11: President Gen Pervez Musharraf here on Saturday asked the chief ministers of Sindh and NWFP to concentrate on further improving the law and order situation, and diverting more resources for development purposes.

Chief Minister of Sindh Ali Mohammad Mahar and Chief Minister of NWFP Akram Durrani called on the president separately and reportedly discussed with him issues concerning their provinces.

Informed that

The president also asked both the chief ministers to work for strengthening democracy and democratic institutions. He said he has relinquished his executive powers to the prime minister with a view to allow the elected representatives to run the affairs of the country without any interference, sources said.

The president expressed hopes that the federal and provincial governments will complete their five-year terms in the office.

Sources said the president told the chief ministers that due to better economic policies, Pakistan has today over $9.2 billion foreign exchange reserves.

He said that the development strategy of the government should be to extend all possible facilities to the people including to offer them adequate health cover.

The president expressed the confidence that with the formation of the provincial governments and with elected representatives in charge, the development process in the provinces would gain further momentum and problems of the people would be addressed.