May 10, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 4, 1429

RAWALPINDI, May 9: Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday said he has asked for more wheat for Rawalpindi than its quota.

Speaking at a press conference after holding a meeting with the officials of the city district government at the Punjab House, the senior minister said smuggling of both wheat and flour from Rawalpindi to the NWFP was continuing and this activity should be stopped to end the shortage in the city.

He said the district produced less wheat than its requirement and the administration had to procure the commodity for the city.

About the local bodies system, he said the government had decided that the local governments would not be suspended but would be facilitated so that they worked for the uplift of the common man.

He said local governments would continue functioning, adding accounts of certain local administrations had been frozen only for the purpose of audit. Their development funds have also been stopped for this purpose, he added.

In reply to a question regarding lack of coordination between the government of Punjab and the elected representatives of the Rawalpindi district, Chaudhry Nisar said there was no need for coordination, as the provincial government would be communicating with the district representatives for better services to the people.

“It is an open secret that how these elements got themselves elected in the local bodies elections and how they have been using their powers for political purposes.”

When asked about allegation of a former Punjab chief minister that the local government representatives were being politically victimised, he said the Punjab government was only three weeks old and there could be no question of any kind of victimisation.

The minister said he had told the local administration that he would not tolerate corruption. He expressed his displeasure over the way revenue and police departments were dealing with the public.

He said the administration would be provided a suitable atmosphere to work in, but at the same time they have to demonstrate good governance.

Chaudhry Nisar said he had also held a meeting with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNAs and MPAs from Rawalpindi and asked them not to favour any unlawful activity and any corrupt official.