KOHALA, Aug 19: National Assembly Deputy Speaker Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Khan has said the government is committed to develop the backward areas.

Speaking at a public meeting here, he said the present government believed in equality and every province would get their due rights.

The meeting was also attended by demonstrators who had blocked the Islamabad-Muzaffarabad road protesting against the ministry for local government and rural development for not releasing funds for the JBIC programme in the NWFP.

The protestors ended the three-hour blockade on the assurance of Mr Khan that he would facilitate a meeting between them and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali.

The deputy speaker also assured them that the funds issue would be resolved by Sept 10.—APP