QUETTA, April 5: Nazims of 11 districts of Balochistan have demanded of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani not to abolish the district government system, saying the move would not be in the interest of the people.

The nazims were addressing a joint press conference at the Quetta Press Club here on Saturday.

Speaking on behalf of the other nazims, Quetta City Nazim Mir Maqbool Ahmed Lehri said that the district government system had been introduced to resolve problems faced by the people at grassroots level and it had proved to be very successful and the PPP-led coalition government should strengthen it instead of abolishing it.He said district governments were facing financial problems as they had no funds to pay even salaries of their employees.

The nazims said that the federal government had announced Rs10 million for development projects in each district, but the amount had not been released so far, creating problems for the district governments.

Mr Lehri said that President Pervez Musharraf had announced a development package of one billion rupees for the Quetta City, but the amount had not been released as yet.

Other nazims present on the occasion were: Maulana Kamaluddin, nazim of Pishin; Adam Khan Achakzai, nazim of Qila Abdullah; Ali Gul Marri, nazim of Kohlu; Dilawar Khan Kakar, nazim of Ziarat; Nadir Khan, nazim of Musakhel; Haji Muhammad Aslam, nazim of Sherani; Maulana Anwaruddin, nazim of Qila Saifullah; Khair Jan Baloch, nazim of Awaran; Shaukat Baloch, nazim of Kharan; and Sardar Naseer Musuwani, nazim of Khuzdar.