KARACHI, July 18: Various development schemes will be initiated in Malir and its suburbs to bring the less developed areas at par with the main city, Senator Nisar A Memon said.

Speaking at a public gathering at Haji Murad Memon Goth in Malir on Saturday evening, he said it was the government's top priority to develop rural and distant areas of the country within the shortest possible time.

Mr Memon, who is also a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League, inaugurated a 1.5km road scheme at a cost of Rs2 million in the area, which was dedicated to an elder of the Memon village, Wadero Bashir Ahmed Memon, for his social services to the area people.

He announced that he would get another road scheme, starting from the Goth to the Main Malir Road, from senators' development fund for the year 2004-05.

The government was utilizing all available resources to create maximum job opportunities in the area, Mr Memon said, adding that besides strengthening of the agriculture sector and ensuring more profit for poor tenants, it was trying to promote cottage industries, as well as small and medium-size industries there, so that population influx into cities and towns could be checked.

He asked the agencies concerned to complete the project within the next two months, and urged the local people to monitor the project themselves.He warned the official concerned that wastage of public funds would not be tolerated.

He said he would coordinate with area MNA Sher Muhammad Baloch, who got elected on the ticket of Pakistan People's Party, to accelerate the development of Malir. Senator Memon was accompanied by the PML leaders, including Khanzada Emran H Khan, Seemi Siddiqui and Haji Unis Baloch.

Elected local government representatives and the officials from Gadap and Malir towns, representing various government agencies were also present. He urged the people to strengthen PML which, he said, had been striving for their betterment on all fronts.

Earlier, Wadero Manzoor Ahmed Memon, in his welcome speech, briefed the senator about various social and economic problems being faced by the people of these areas. -APP