JACOBABAD, Sept 18: Acting President Mohammedmian Soomro said on Monday that the meeting between President Gen Pervaz Musharraf and his US counterpart George Bush scheduled for Friday would strengthen ties between the two countries and foster cooperation to eradicate terrorism.

Talking to journalists after inaugurating a women crisis centre here on Monday, he said Gen Musharraf’s visit to the European countries would prove politically and economically fruitful.

In reply to a question, Mr Soomro said the situation in Balochistan was under control. The issue would be solved through dialogue as Balochistan is part of the country, he added.

Earlier, speaking at the opening of the women crisis centre, Mr Mohammedmian Soomro said the government had ensured participation of women in every institution of the country so that women could work shoulder to shoulder with men and solve their problems themselves.

Mr Soomro said these centres would support women, as legal help would be available here. He said the government had established those centres initially in five districts of the country.

He also inaugurated a road of the police headquarters, Ahmedmian Soomro Memorial Police Hospital, a primary school, public park and a library.

He presented cheques of Rs50,000 each to the relatives of the people killed in a road accident two years ago on the Begari canal.

RPO Mohammad Bachal Sangri, DCO Mohammad Rashid, DIG Akhtar Hussain Gorchani, DPO Munir Ahmed Khuhro and District Naib Nazim Changez Khan was present on the occasion.

Our Sukkur correspondent adds: Talking to newsmen, Mr Soomro said there were no separatists in Balochistan; all Balochs were patriotic Pakistanis, he added.

However, he said that no one would be allowed to play with the integrity and solidarity of the country.

Talking to journalists in the Jacobabad circuit house, he said work on mega projects of Balochistan was in progress. The uplift schemes would dispel the sense of deprivation among Balochs, he said.

Talking about the women rights bill, he said reservations of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal would be removed and said that no law would be enacted against the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

About Gen Musharraf’s foreign visit, he said president’s tour would prove beneficial for boosting the economy and trade of the country. It would also help dispel wrong and baseless propaganda and perceptions of the European countries about Pakistan, he added.

He said the meeting of President Musharraf with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would prove a milestone in the better relations of the two countries.

Earlier in the day, the acting president inaugurated the new DPO office in the Police Headquarters and laid foundation stone of a general hospital.

He also visited the civil hospital, visited different wards and departments and inquired about the welfare of the patients.

He advised doctors to provide all possible medical facilities to patients.

KILLED: A speedy truck killed a motorcyclist and injured another near Ranipur, Khairpur district on Monday morning.