ISLAMABAD, Oct 30: Federal Minister for Political Affairs Amir Muqam has said that it is the government’s policy to provide all basic facilities like education and utilities to the masses of NWFP.

He was talking to a 100-member delegation from Topi, Swabi district, which called on him under the leadership of former provincial minister Abdul Ghafoor Jadoon here on Monday.

The minister said all measures were being taken to accelerate the process of growth and improve standard of living of the masses belonging to remote and backward areas of the province.

He said work on development projects announced by President Gen Pervez Musharraf during his visit to Swabi had been initiated, adding that these would be completed soon.

He said the masses of NWFP did not believe in hollow slogans of MMA and other political parties in the province, and that the Pakistan Muslim League would win the elections in future.

Mr Muqam alleged that the MMA leadership had no regard for Islam. It cracked joke of the religion by celebrating three Eids as Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Qazi Hussain Ahmad and NWFP Chief Minister Mohammad Akram Durrani observed Eids on different days, which shows disharmony in their ranks.

The minister said the masses of NWFP were well aware of the agenda of nationalists as they were also not interested in the development of the province and wanted to impede the pace of progress.

The minister listened to the problems of the NWFP masses and issued orders for their resolution.

The members of the delegation thanked the minister for showing keen interest in solving their problems, and added that they reposed trust in the leadership of President Gen Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the PML office-bearers.—Our Reporter