ISLAMABAD, June 17: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said the government is keen to restore peace and resolve all issues through negotiations.

He was talking to a delegation from South Waziristan which called on him at his parliament chamber on Saturday.

Islam, he said, is a religion of peace and tolerance, and tribal leaders should not let anyone to distort the image of Islam and allow them to create mistrust and misunderstandings between Pakistan and its neighbours.

Mr Aziz said the government was committed to economic development of the tribal areas and had made allocations of over Rs6 billion in the budget for Fata uplift.

The prime minister assured the delegation of more allocations in future for Fata.

He eulogised the sacrifices rendered by the people of tribal areas and said that development and stability were interlinked.

The delegation apprised him of the challenges being faced by the people in the tribal areas and appreciated the steps taken by the government for their redressal.

They also assured the prime minister of their cooperation in pursuing development, peace and prosperity in the tribal areas.

A delegation from Balochistan, led by acting chairman of the Senate Mir Jan Mohammad Jamali, also called on the prime minister.

Mr Aziz said that the development of Balochistan was among the top priorities of the government and it would continue to allocate necessary funds for its uplift.

Leaders of the ruling PML Mir Abdul Majid Bizenjo and Anayatullah Khan Baazai were also part of the delegation.

The prime minister said that the government had allocated a large part of the Khushhal Pakistan Fund for Balochistan.

The delegation also discussed party matters and its reorganisation in Balochistan.

APP adds: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz asked people of the tribal areas to extend full support to the government in dealing with extremist elements who, he said, were damaging peace and hampering development.

Talking to a delegation belonging to South Waziristan that called on him in his chamber at the Parliament House, the prime minister said development and stability were inextricably linked.

No meaningful development could occur in the absence of a peaceful and stable environment, he said.

He said the patriotic tribal people desired peace, development and stability in their region.

He said the desire was shared by the government, which wanted peace and resolution of all issues through talks.

He said the people of tribal areas were peace loving and they had made tremendous sacrifices for creation of Pakistan and for glory of the country and Islam.

He asked the tribal leaders not to allow anyone to distort the image of Islam and create misunderstandings between Pakistan and its neighbours.

He said the government has allocated Rs6 billion for the development of tribal areas and more funds would be made available.

The delegation apprised the prime minister of the problems being faced by the people and appreciated the steps taken by the government for redressing them.

They assured the government of their cooperation in pursuing development, peace and prosperity in the tribal areas.