01 March 2004	Monday	09 Muharram 1425

LAHORE, Feb 29: Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said here on Sunday that concrete measures had been adopted to avert any untoward incident during Muharram and the chief secretary and the IGP would themselves patrol streets to ensure peace on Youm-i-Ashur.

Talking to reporters after inspecting the under-construction FC College Underpass here, he said the Rawalpindi suicide bomb attack was being probed. Mercifully, there was not much loss of life in the incident, he said.

The chief minister said all provincial ministers, Nazims and office-bearers of the PML had been asked to supervise arrangements for peace during Muharram. Those spreading sectarianism and hatred in the name of religion were in fact enemies of Islam and Pakistan.

"We have stopped the practice of arresting people in the name of peace during Muharram. Instead, we have promoted mutual trust and a sense of responsibility among them."

He said ulema belonging to all schools of thought were cooperating with the government in its efforts to maintain peace during Muharram. "We will proceed against the mischief-mongers."

FLOUR CRISIS: Talking about the flour crisis, the chief minister said that inter-provincial movement of wheat or flour had not been banned. Instead, all hurdles had been removed in the supply of flour to people.

He said stern action was being taken against those creating an artificial shortage of flour. The government was also providing subsidized flour to people and had adopted a policy to ensure proper wheat price for growers.

Earlier, he said quality material had been used in the construction of FC College underpass. Development projects in other parts of the province were also being completed. The construction of Lahore Ring Road would begin in June, he said.

He said the government would ensure timely completion of all such development projects that could generate jobs and promote the related industries.

The Rs280 million FC College underpass would also be completed on schedule, he said. He said more underpasses would be constructed up to the Motorway so as to facilitate the flow of traffic. The communications secretary briefed the chief minister on the construction of underpass.