QUETTA, March 25: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday announced a special package of 56 per cent of total funds of the Khushhal Pakistan Programme for Balochistan to be utilised by the district governments for development projects.

Speaking to the district nazims at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, he said the government had decided to allocate Rs2.8 billion out of total Rs5 billion allocated for the Khushhal Pakistan Programme for the country.

Mr Aziz said that every district of Balochistan would get Rs100 million from Rs2.8 billion, except Quetta that would receive Rs200 million and Kohlu which had been excluded as President Musharraf had already announced Rs1.5 billion package for it.

He said that district nazims would identify development projects and none of them could utilise the funds for purchasing vehicles, lands, etc.

The premier said monitoring teams would be set up to ensure proper utilisation of funds for the benefit of common man.

Mr Aziz said that the federal government was giving special attention to Balochistan to overcome its backwardness and President Musharraf was keen to provide funds for development projects for the province.

He said that during last six years, huge funds amounting to Rs140 billion had been allocated to accelerate development activities in the province and it would bring progress and prosperity to the people.

Mr Aziz said work on Mirani and Sabukzai dams was under way, Pat Feeder Canal would be extended and construction of the Kachhi canal would change the lives of farmers living in its command area.