ISLAMABAD, June 9: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Monday said his government was paying special attention to the development of remote and far-flung areas.

Presiding over a meeting at the PM’s secretariat to consider matters relating to the budgetary allocations for Balochistan, he said his government was serious in the development of remote areas.

The prime minister said that special emphasis was being laid on alleviation of poverty, and improvement in physical infrastructure. “This government has special interest in the development of remote and far-flung areas, and it would spare no effort in this regard,” he added.

He said that implementation was the key to ensuring speedy development of backward areas.

The meeting discussed matters pertaining to further improvement in the physical infrastructure. A number of proposals came under discussion in this regard.

The prime minister assured the chief minister of Balochistan the federal government’s continued support for development schemes and programmes. The provincial government was also assured that their financial requirements in the federal budgetary allocation had been given due consideration, and would be met accordingly.

Mr Jamali said the mega projects of Gwadar port and of roads connecting Gwadar with Karachi and Chaman were being undertaken on a priority basis. “This would usher in an era of prosperity in the province.”

Talking to a 10-member delegation of journalists from Balochistan, the prime minister said the government was determined to protect and promote freedom of expression in the country. It considered free press one of the pre-requisites of a democratic system, he added.

He said a free press acts as a watchdog of democratic values and civil liberties. It acts as a two-way communication channel, informing the people of the government’s policies and carrying an honest feedback from them to the government. “This vital role must be strengthened,” he observed.