23 February 2004	Monday	02 Muharram 1425

LAHORE, Feb 22: Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said on Sunday that ulema found delivering provocative speeches would be taken to task to ensure peace during Muharram.

He was presiding over a meeting of the provincial cabinet here at the Civil Secretariat. The chief minister apprised the cabinet of the steps taken for maintenance of law and order during Muharram and directed ministers to take into confidence ulema and other opinion leaders in their respective districts to ensure peace during the month.

Earlier, the chief minister said the decision of the steering committees concerned was not the last word when several ministers complained there were no funds to provide the missing facilities in their respective districts.

Responding to their demand for re-allocation of funds, the chief minister said the policy of steering committees would be changed and funds provided to the districts as per actual requirements. The government would ensure participation of local people in utilization of these funds, he said.

Regarding development projects, he said the government was giving priority to the remote and backward areas. The selection of southern Punjab for launching the scheme of a monthly stipend of Rs200 for girl students to arrest their dropout rate proved this fact.

The chief minister said the additional funds procured by the provincial government through better financial management would be diverted towards development of backward areas.

He said because of good financial management, the government had reduced its burden of loans. Now, it would be able to spend an additional Rs4 to 5 billion on agriculture, education, industries, health and other sectors every year.

The chief minister said the provincial government had retired loans carrying a markup of 19 per cent through loans carrying an interest rate of only one per cent. It had recently received a similar World Bank loan of $100 million.

He said the World Bank had appreciated provision of the missing facilities in schools and assured the Punjab government of all-out assistance. Meanwhile, the cabinet approved the draft law for Lahore journalists' housing foundation. The law would be submitted to the assembly on Monday.

The government intends to provide residential plots to print and electronic journalists on soft terms. The cabinet also considered the draft law on agriculture property rights which was being enacted on the instructions of federal government to protect indigenous agriculture products under the WTO regime.

The chief minister appreciated administration's arrangements for the National Horse and Cattle Show. An appreciation letter from the governor was also read out at the meeting. He thanked the prime minister for handing over the control of Lahore Fort and Shalamar Gardens to the province.