ISLAMABAD Dec 22: Omar Asghar Khan, the outgoing federal minister for local government, rural development, labour, manpower, overseas Pakistanis and environment, said on Saturday that he had worked for the betterment of the most ignored and deprived sections of the society during his two years of ministership.

Omar Asghar Khan, son of Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan, resigned on Dec 12. His resignation was accepted by President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Saturday (Dec 22).

Speaking to a farewell gathering on Saturday —the last day as the minister, he said that during his stint, he had tried to contribute to the welfare of the labour community by providing welfare package, increasing pensions, death compensation, minimum wages, expanding social security coverage and holding a tripartite labour conference after 13 years.

The establishment of local governments would bring radical changes in the society, he hoped, saying that the participation of the deprived segments of the society in the coming election would provide them with an opportunity to play their due role in policy making through allocation of quotas.

Mr Khan said the resettlement and upgradation of Kutcha Abadis would provide protection to the poorer classes.