March 15, 2006	Wednesday	Safar 14, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

SAHIWAL, March 14: All dams, including Kalabagh, will be constructed by 2016. This was stated by Minister of State for Finance Omer Ayub Khan while talking to journalists on Tuesday at the Circuit House here.

He said dams were a must to save water for future needs.

The minister said the government has found foreign hands in the terrorist acts in Balochistan.

“There is no army operation in the province and the situation is completely under control. No foreigner was arrested but those who damaged the government installations,” he added.

“The Balochistan issue is being resolved politically.”

He said widening of Karakoram Highway and construction of Gwadar port would open new era of trade with China, Tajikistan and other Russian states.

About counterfeit currency notes circulation in the markets, Mr Khan said FIA was being moved to curb the menace.

The minister assured to take up the matter of the closure of passport office at Sahiwal with the federal interior minister and the construction of Qutub Shahana bridge with the planing and development department and the NHA.

SUGAR: Food Minister Chaudhry Iqbal said at the Circuit House that the Punjab government would provide sugar to half a million families at the rate of Rs20 per kilogram.

Registration of deserving families has already been made and flour was being provided to them at subsidised rates.

The minister ruled out any shortage of wheat in the province. Flour mills have adequate stocks of wheat and if the need arose, the government would provide wheat to them.

Later, the minister attended the horse and cattle show.