TURBAT, April 27: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Saturday, reiterating his pledge to remove the sense of deprivation among the backward areas of the country, said that all the four provinces have to work together and provide strength to each other for the well-being and prosperity of the nation.

Speaking at a big rally at the Circuit House here, 600km off Karachi, the President said the government was committed to remove the sense of deprivation, therefore it provided much more funds than the share of Balochistan.

He said those who were active in weakening the country were opposing the reform plan of the government. They should know that their nefarious designs would be frustrated, he added.

The present government, the President said, wanted to hand over a strong and well integrated country to the next generation. The upbringing and training of the children was the most important thing, as they were the real future of the country and their future has to be saved, he added.

President Musharraf said the priority areas of his government were the elimination of poverty, bringing the backward areas at par with the developed ones, removing the sense of deprivation and establishing link of every part of the country to the rest of the country

Our government was making road links besides establishing railway and air links so that these links could contribute in increasing the harmony among different parts of the country, he said.

The President said the road and railway links would bring the four provinces more closer, and they would work in complete harmony with the federal government for the well being of the people of this country.

His government has started working on the plan to eliminate the sense of deprivation among the people of this neglected province, and this plan would continue, he said.

“ I will come and visit this area again to see the on-ground development of the projects, he had initiated during his two-and-a-half year tenure in the government,” he assured.

President Musharraf said: “ I am not one of those who make tall claims and promises, and then forget them, but whatever I promised, will be executed.”

He said that 3,000 tube wells would be installed and 73 small dams would be constructed in Balochistan, power would be provided on flat rate of Rs4,000 while the rest would be borne by the provincial government and Wapda.

The Agricultural Development Bank, he said, had been asked to prepare a package within a month to help the farmers on national level.

Mr Musharraf also said the loans up to Rs25,000 in the drought-hit areas would be written off and interest on loans up to Rs100,000 would be waived.

The ADBP, the president said, would disburse Rs10 billion in next three months in the form of loans up to Rs100,000. These loans would only be extended to new faces and not a single penny would go to “big people”, he asserted.

He said that he had announced in Loralai that 50,000 tons of wheat/flour would be distributed among the poor so that they could get the food. “We will keep on looking after them in future as well”, he assured.

The President said Rs5 billion would be distributed among the deserving poor from Zakat fund, and it would not be a loan but a free assistance to enable them earn their bread and butter.

He said this measure would gradually reduce the number of dependents instead of giving them Rs500 per month from the Zakat Fund.

The President explained that up to Rs50,000 would be given as assistance from the Zakat Fund.

He said the Khushhali Bank, which has set up branches in 35 districts, would be branched out across the country by the end of the year. This bank would contact the people and offer loans up to Rs30,000 for setting up small business, he added.

The public rally was also addressed by Balochistan Governor Ameenul Mulk Mengal, Federal Education Minister Zubaida Jalal, Nazimeen of Turbat, Punjgur, Awaran and Kech.—APP