August 14, 2008	Thursday	Sha'aban 11, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has doubled the minority development fund from Rs7.5 million to Rs15 million.

During a meeting with a 10-member delegation of minority legislators at the Parliament House on Wednesday, the prime minister also announced a grant of Rs10 million each for 12 minority MNAs.

Shahnaz Wazir Ali, special assistant to the prime minister, was present in the meeting.

The legislators demanded a five per cent quota in all government housing schemes for minorities, ownership rights for dwellers of kachchi abadis and minorities’ representation in the Evacuee Trust Property Board.

They also demanded that the minorities should be given a special quota in the judiciary, five per cent quota in all government jobs and professional colleges. Establishment of a model village for minorities was also sought.

The lawmakers said that all important festivals of minorities should be celebrated at the national level.

The prime minister assured the delegation that the government would seriously look into their demands and asked Ms Shahnaza to prepare a report. He asked the special assistant to set up a committee to prepare a report on all laws that discriminate against the minorities.