ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: The government on Monday decided to prepare a comprehensive development package for Tharparkar within a month to honour the commitments made during the recent by-elections.

Federal planning division and the Sindh government will coordinate to finalize the plan and international lending agencies would also be contacted for assistance. The decision was taken at a meeting which was presided over by the outgoing finance minister, Mr Shaukat Aziz, and also attended by Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim.

The planning commission, whose deputy chairman was named as focal point of the package, was asked to prepare a plan that should include short, medium and long-term programmes. Projects with the potential to make maximum impact on the life of common men, be given priority.

The main priority areas will be provision of water, electricity, construction of network of roads, education and health facilities to the people of Thar. It will also focus to develop livestock, agriculture sector and mining sector.

Mr Aziz said Thar was one of the most backward areas of Pakistan and hence institutions like Khushhali Bank, Zarai Taraqiati Bank would be asked to give priority to the development of Thar.

He said President Gen Pervez Musharraf had already given priority to the development of Thar. The task force and technical committee on Thar will be activated so as to hold their frequent meetings.

He asked the relevant authorities to accelerate implementation of Thar coal power generation project and informed the meeting that China was taking keen interest in the plan and all feasibility reports have been completed.

The prime minister-designate also gave instructions to the departments concerned to remove all bottlenecks in the project and start work on them as soon as possible.

Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim thanked the finance minister for giving priority to the development of Sindh by holding the first meeting after his elections on the Thar development plan.

He said people of Thar had a desire that Mr Aziz should retain the seat of Sindh. However, they accepted the party decision to vacate that seat. The Sindh chief secretary gave a presentation on the portfolio of development projects for Thar and district headquarters in Sindh requiring federal assistance.

He gave details of the proposed development projects which included water supply schemes, establishment of research centres for agricultural development, installation of agriculture pumps and tubewells, provision of health and education facilities, financial assistance to the minorities, construction of small dams and road network, digging of wells in pumping machineries, provision of mobile phones, wireless telephone system and PCO, provision of gas and electricity facilities to the towns and villages, sport complex at Mithi etc.

The meeting was also attended by minister for petroleum, provincial minister for minerals, deputy chairman, planning commission and Wapda chairman besides relevant high ranking officers.

Meanwhile, talking to a delegation of notables from Thar who called on the finance minister latter in the day Mr Aziz said that Thar development plan would cater to the basic needs of people and create opportunities, help in poverty alleviation and overall development of the area.

Mr Aziz assured the delegation that he would fulfil all promises and commitments made to the people of Thar. He said although he had not retained the seat of Thar, he would always consider it his constituency and his doors would remain open to the people of the area.