July 30, 2003	Wednesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 29, 1424

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QUETTA, July 29: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousuf has said development activities in Gwadar will be launched very soon and refuted the assertions of some elements that the United States has been provided defence facilities in the coastal areas of the province.

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday night, the chief minister claimed that his government’s all policies including uplift plans were for the stability and prosperity of Pakistan. “We cannot imagine taking any step against the national interest,” he added.

He said some elements were spreading rumours about the provision of facilities to America for airfield activities in Jewani of Makran area, but they were baseless.

Mr Jam Yousuf said President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday had telephonic talks with him about the flood situation in the province and he had requested the president to grant special funds for the rain-hit people. The president had held out full assurance in this regard, the chief minister added.

The provincial health department, he said, allocated Rs5 million each for the affected districts while the government earmarked Rs15 million for Khuzdar district, which was badly-hit by torrential rains.

The chief minister told the reporters that from Wednesday, he would begin visits to Jhal Magsi, Nasirabad, Bolan, Awaran, Khuzdar and Karkuk to personally assess the situation there and said the government had made all arrangements to shift the rain victims to safer places, besides the provision of other facilities to them.

About the Chamlang area issue, he said an influential religious figure had assured him to help resolve the dispute between the Luni and Marri tribes. The Luni tribe had also approached Nawab Khair Bakhah Marri to help settle the issue, he added.

Replying to a question about the protest of Sui gas company employees, the chief minister said he had discussed the matter with the PPL authorities and federal secretary of petroleum to sort out differences.

About the law and order problem in Kohlu district, Mr Jam Yousuf said he had directed the director-general of provincial Levies force to visit the area and take disciplinary action against the delinquent Levies men.