ISLAMABAD, April 23: Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon said on Saturday the government was giving top priority to the speedy development of NWFP and oil and gas exploration activities in Bannu, DI Khan, Kohat and Karak districts would start soon.
He was talking to a 45-member delegation from NWFP led by provincial minister Fazal-e-Rabbani which called on him here and apprised him of the problems of their areas.
Mr Jadoon said oil and gas exploration activities would not only bring revolutionary change in the lifestyle of the people, but also help reduce poverty, unemployment and backwardness of the areas.
He said the government was spending billions of rupees on the socio-economic development of NWFP and taking concrete steps for the provision of basic amenities to the people.
The minister said that SNGPL had already been directed to conduct surveys of those areas easily accessible to the transmission system and provide gas connection to the people at an accelerated pace. He said all parts of NWFP would get Sui gas facility in phase-wise, benefiting to the new commercial, industrial and domestic consumers.
Mr Jadoon urged the elected representatives of the areas to fully cooperate with the oil and gas companies in the development activities for the mutual advantage.
The NWFP minister expressed the hope that oil and gas development activities would bring the less privileged and remote areas of NWFP on a par with the developed ones of the country.—APP
