HARIPUR, May 26: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday said the Pakistan Muslim League government was trying to provide basic amenities to the people. Speaking at a public rally on the premises of the Telephone Industry of Pakistan, the prime minister said it was the right of the people to enjoy the basic facilities. The government was sincerely working towards completing various development projects under the leadership of President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The prime minister said that record development allocations in recent years had been made possible due to the improved economic conditions in the country, with the authorities focusing on strengthening the national exchequer instead of looting money.

He said the government would not let anyone repeat the history of ransacking the national kitty, and would continue completing the ongoing development projects with the support of the people.

Mr Aziz claimed that the government had changed the style of politics in the country. Instead of confrontational policies, the government had introduced a policy of reconciliation.

Slamming what he called the confrontational attitude of the opposition parties, the prime minister said some politicians wanted to damage the “peaceful development process” in the country.

Mr Aziz said the government’s existing policies needed continuity. He added that due to the incentives and facilities provided to farmers, crops production had improved appreciably. Terming workers and farmers the backbone of the country, the premier said the government would continue taking measures for their welfare.

Referring to the May 12 incidents in Karachi, he said the law and order situation in the city had improved after “corrective steps” taken by the government.

The prime minister said that Pakistan was a nuclear power, and no one would be allowed to cast an evil eye on it.

The prime minister announced Rs100 million for the development of Haripur and said that various projects worth Rs2 billion were already under way there. He also declared that natural gas, electricity and water would be supplied to the villages in the area. He said a skills training centre would be set up in the area and a road linking Hasanabdal with Mansehra would be built.

Federal Minister for Political Affairs Engr Amir Muqam, PML Senior Vice-President Gohar Ayub, State Minister for Finance Omar Ayub, MPA Faisal Zaman Khan and Haripur district Nazim Yousuf Ayub Khan also spoke on the occasion.—APP