ISLAMABAD, Aug 30: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has asked the parliamentarians to gird up for the 2007 general elections. He said peaceful completion of the second phase of the local bodies polls and the voter turnout clearly indicated that the people had not only endorsed the local bodies system but also the policies being pursued by the government.

The prime minister was talking to a group of MNAs including ministers and state ministers, who met him in his chamber at the National Assembly on Tuesday and held discussions with him on various issues of national significance.

The prime minister urged the parliamentarians to maintain a close contact with their constituents and educate them on the efforts being made by the government to improve their standard of living. He also asked them to apprise the people of the “achievements” made by the government on the domestic as well as foreign policy fronts.

Referring to the Khushhal Pakistan Programme unfolded by the government recently, the prime minister said it was a clear road map to a better living, as it encompassed improvement in health, infrastructure and other fields relevant to the people like electricity, gas and safe drinking water.

Those who met the prime minister included Minister for Kashmir Affairs Faisal Saleh Hayat, Minister for Science and Technology Ch. Noraiz Shakoor, Minister for Narcotics Control Ghous Bakhsh Mahar, Minister of State for Petroleum Naseer Mengal and MNAs Khalid Lund, Khwaja Sheraz Mehmood, Shahjehan Yousaf, Sanaullah Masti Khail, Aslam Bodla and chief whip of the PML Parliamentary Party Nasrullah Khan Dareshak.

Meanwhile, a delegation of PML from Thatta comprising Ejaz Ali Shah Shirazi, Shafqat Hussain Shirazi, Muhammad Ali Malkani, Minister of State for Food and Agriculture and Ayaz Ali Shah MNA called on the prime minister in his chamber at the Parliament House on Tuesday and discussed with him matters pertaining to their areas.

The prime minister said the government was focusing on improving infrastructure like roads and bridges and had launched an ambitious plan under the Khushhal Pakistan Programme for provision of basic necessities of life to the people including electricity, gas and clean drinking water along with constructions of roads.