ISLAMABAD, Feb 29: The government is striving for political stability and economic prosperity in the country, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said.

He was talking to an 18-member delegation from various districts of Sindh and Balochistan at the Prime Minister House here on Sunday. The prime minister said the government was fully alive to the problems being faced by the people, particularly unemployment, and was devising strategies in this regard.

He expressed confidence that mega-development projects being executed in Balochistan would help address this issue adequately. These schemes will also be instrumental in improving the quality of people's lives, he added.

Mr Jamali said jobs would only be given on merit, which alone formed the guiding principle of his government. He called upon the youth to spare no effort in equipping themselves with quality education to face future challenges. He said development of backward areas was top priority of his government.

The delegation apprised the prime minister of the problems faced by the people in their respective areas, especially with regard to provision of gas, electricity, drinking water, and construction of roads.

The prime minister assured them that all out efforts would be made for provision of basic necessities. Besides, schemes will also be launched for uplift of agriculture, grant of agri-loans, tube wells and fertilizers, he added.