ISLAMABAD, Aug 26: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday said the government was committed to the development and progress of the tribal areas so that they could benefit from the economic gains made by the country.

He was talking to a group of MNAs including Dr S. Javed Hussain, Dr Nasim Afridi and Noorul Haq Qadri, who called on him at the Prime Minister’s House on Friday. Mr Aziz said the government was allocating substantial funds under the Khushhal Pakistan Programme for provision of electricity, gas, roads and clean drinking water throughout the country.

This programme, he said, would also benefit the tribal areas in improving the standard of living and providing basic amenities of life to the common man.

The prime minister said the people of tribal areas had always kept the national interest foremost and expressed the hope that they would shun extremism and follow the path of moderation.