KARACHI, March 21: The federal government will expedite the process of allocation of funds for the Hyderabad development Package to repair the damage to city infrastructure caused by last year’s torrential rains.

This assurance was given by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at a meeting here on Wednesday during which progress on development works under the package was reviewed, according to official sources.

The prime minister reviewed the progress on development works in the rain-affected areas of Hyderabad since his visit to the city in September 2006.

He said that after achieving economic stability, the government was now focusing on transferring benefit of growth to masses, and added that record allocations had been made for development projects across the country.

Hyderabad District Kanwar Naveed Jamil briefed the meeting on development works completed in his city so far. He informed the meeting that three filter plants were being installed in the city to provide safe drinking water to the people. Besides, he added, new sewerage lines had been laid in major areas of Hyderabad and work on flyovers was in progress.

Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim briefed the meeting on major development projects in the province, particularly mass transit scheme for Karachi.