KOHAT, March 31: Minister for Water and Power Ameer Muqam announced here on Friday over Rs130 million uplift projects for Kohat. Speaking at a public meeting at the municipal ground, he told the departments concerned to expedite work on the KDA grid station.

The minister, who is also president of the NWFP chapter of Pakistan Muslim League, announced Rs80 million for setting up feeders in Gumbat and other parts of the city for smooth supply of electricity, Rs20 million for water supply schemes, Rs20 million for provision of gas to the areas in close proximity to the main supply line, Rs10.42 million for 48 small projects and Rs200,000 for welfare of women.

Criticising opposition parties, he termed their leadership corrupt, saying that they had no sympathy with the country and its people.

He said the Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had lost popularity among the masses because the two parties gave priority to personal interests. Therefore, Mian Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto were afraid of returning to the country, he added.

He rejected the impression that the present government had any role in the so-called media trial and corruption cases. The two leaders had met the same fate due to repeated attempts to let down each other to rule the country, he added.

The minister claimed that President Pervez Musharraf was the only leader whose economic and foreign policies had generated unprecedented financial activity in the country and improved the image of the country.

He asked the people to vote for the party of President Pervez Musharraf in the next elections if they believed in enlightened, moderate and a strong Pakistan.

Earlier, district Nazim Gohar Saifullah Khan presented a number of demands in his address of welcome.

He criticised the policies of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and claimed that the PML would sweep the coming polls.

MPA Mushtaq Ghani, Tank district Nazim Riaz Kundi, former district nazim Bannu Mohammad Iqbal, tehsil nazim Kohat Dilbar Khan and a large number of union nazims and councillors attended the gathering.