July 31, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 15, 1428

LAHORE, July 30: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi says re-election of President Gen Pervez Musharraf in uniform from the current assemblies is a priority and the PML will have no objection if the Pakistan People’s Party or any other party extends its support in this regard.

Addressing parliamentarians, district nazims and Pakistan Muslim League office bearers from Bhakkar district at his secretariat here on Monday, he said Gen Musharraf had promoted genuine democracy in the country while remaining in uniform due to which parliamentary institutions had been strengthened.

He said Gen Musharraf was the need of the hour for the continuity of ongoing development process in the country.

He said the government was spending huge resources for the elimination of poverty and backwardness from society as well as promotion of education. Approval had been given for gas supply to Bhakkar and an amount of Rs540 million would be spent on the project, he said.

The CM said the PML had played a historic role for the promotion of national integrity as well as for tolerance and understanding in politics, and was furthering development agenda in accordance with its manifesto.

Development of far-flung and backward areas was the most important element of development strategy of the government, and equal opportunities of progress were being provided to all areas of the province.

He said additional resources were made available due to excellent financial discipline and solid policies which were now being utilised for improving the living standard of the masses. The PML government, he said, had spent more funds than PPP and PML-N governments for the development of the province due to which its candidates would sweep the general elections.

Mr Elahi further said the present government had executed development projects worth Rs4.5 billion in Bhakkar during the last four-and-a-half years. He said initially an amount of Rs200 million was being given for gas supply to Bhakkar, and the construction of Sargodha-Khushab-Bhakkar road at a cost of Rs1 billion was in progress. He said huge funds were being spent on the uplift of education, health, irrigation, infrastructure and communication sectors in Bhakkar district.

Provincial Revenue Minister Gul Hameed Rokhari, Jails Minister Saeed Akbar Niwani, District Nazim Hameed Akbar Khan Niwani and PML president Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan were present on the occasion.