March, 27 2005	Sunday	16 Safar 1426

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BADIN, March 26: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said here on Saturday that local government elections would be held from July to Aug 14 this year, and asked the people to elect leaders who could initiate development at a grassroots level. Addressing a public meeting, the president said the local governments had been financially empowered to serve the people at their doorstep and now it was the duty of the people to elect the right and honest leaders who performed honestly to resolve their problems.“Democracy is fully functioning in the country and local bodies have restored genuine democracy in the country. This year local bodies elections will be held in July-August period and conclude on Aug 14. It is up to the people now to elect honest leaders,” he said.Referring to Balochistan situation, the president said nobody would be allowed to retard Pakistan’s march on the road to socio-economic progress.

“If we work collectively, Pakistan will prosper rapidly and become powerful — our identity is with Pakistan — the country’s power will be our power, its well-being will be our well-being.

“Therefore, I appeal to all of you to join hands with the government in its efforts for a sustained development in the country,” he said.

The president said both Balochistan and Sindh were now receiving more allocations than their due shares from the Public Sector Development Programme and both would also gain from the construction of water reservoirs.

“Indeed, the entire country would gain from the construction of large dams.

“I would like to assure here with all authority that Sindh’s rights will be protected and the telemetry system installed at main barrages ensures a fair distribution of water.

“It is Sindh that will benefit the most from new dams. The areas, which do not receive sufficient water, will be connected through new canals,” the president declared.

The president said that farmers at the tail-end would receive water they required for the irrigation of their lands and contribute to agro-growth.

He asked the people to realise water requirements for farm growth in the province.

The government, he said, had alleviated the sense of deprivation existed in Sindh in the past and now the province had representation in all national institutions including army, where about 70,000 people from the province were now serving.

Referring to a host of measures taken for the agricultural growth, the president said the attainment of that objective hinged on the availability of enough water for irrigation.

The water reservoirs would not only spur greater agricultural growth but also create new jobs as well as generate the much-needed inexpensive hydro-power, he pointed out.

He recalled benefits being accrued from last year’s landmark farmers’ package, the brick-lining of water courses, extension of Rs100 billion credit facility, and said all these had had an positive effect on economic gains of small farmers.

“These steps have definitely been helpful in reducing poverty as 80 per cent of credit-receivers are small farmers having less than 20 acres of land,” he said.

The president said it was for the first time that poverty, which had been on the rise since long, had been checked as both agricultural and industrial sectors had registered dynamic growth.

“New factories are coming up in urban centres, and existing industries are working to their full potential, people are getting jobs — and we have succeeded in stemming poverty.

“Our strategy is now is to check price hike,” he said, informing the people that he had asked the prime minister and provincial chief ministers to keep prices at minimum level to ease burden on the common man.

On production of low cost energy, he said, the unutilized Thar coal would be developed for the benefit of the people of Sindh. He also disclosed on the occasion that a 100mw windmill-produced power would be available to the province by December.

The president praised efforts of the army for completing the massive repair work of the Sukkur Barrage ahead of schedule and for saving Rs200 million.

He said an early warning system had been installed at the Sukkur Barrage.

The Pakistan Army, he said, had rendered invaluable services in the improvement of Left Bank Outfall Drainage (LBOD), which was extremely important to Badin and its surrounding areas.

The president also asked the people to stand up against the menace of extremism and terrorism.

“We have to counter the menace, which is the biggest challenge facing the country,” he said, asking the people to launch a movement and stop those fanning hatred and extremism.

On the occasion, the president announced the establishment of a degree college and a digital library in Badin, provision of gas for Tando Bago, widening of the road connecting Badin to four districts.

The president said he would ask the prime minister to look into enhancing oil and gas royalty for development purpose of the areas of production. He also announced setting up of a grid station for improving the supply of electricity to the area.—APP