January 18, 2006	Wednesday	Zilhaj 17, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 17: The chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Local Government and Rural Development, Senator Mohammad Sarwar Khan Karkar said that Article-158 of the constitution be followed and gas should be provided to all the areas of Balochistan on priority basis.

This was reiterated by all the other members of the committee namely Senators Kalsoom Perveen, Rasheed Ahmed Khan, Mir Wali Mohammad Badini, Sanaullah Baloch and Maulana Rahat Hussain.

The committee discussed progress of various uplift schemes under the Khushhal Pakistan Programme and the future objectives of the Municipal Research and Training Institute Karachi, with representative from KESC, SSGC, Pak PWD, Hesco and IG and RD departments (Sindh and Balochistan).

Maulana Rahat Hussain proposed that all the senators should visit locations of various development schemes to check the progress and ensure proper utilization of funds.

The senators asked details about the billing procedure of the KESC and said that it was causing problems for the masses. Proper strategy should be devised to provide some relief to the common man, it was stressed.

MRTI gave presentation about its working and future programme and demanded induction of more qualified staff and up gradation of the training aid equipment for the institution.

They discussed various problems prevalent in Balochistan and pledged to work hard for the development of Balochistan.—PPI