ISLAMABAD, Aug 24: Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Mohammad Ajmal Khan on Tuesday said the development funds approved in the budget 2003-04 for Senators to carry out development works in their constituencies would be released within a month.

"The funds cannot laps and will be released essentially as some technical problems caused the delay," the minister told the Senate in reply to a point of order raised by Kamil Ali Agha.

The minister said the matter had been taken up with the finance department and assured the house that the funds would be released soon. Minister for Environment Tahir Iqbal in response to a point of order raised by MMA's Rehmatullah Kakar regarding security arrangements in Balochistan said the armed forces represented Pakistan and not any province.

Liaquat Bangalzai demanded the federal government take care of the financial requirements of Balochistan as the provincial government was being run through overdrafts. Prof Khursheed Ahmad referred to the recent European Union (EU) report regarding custodial killings in the occupied Kashmir and asked the government to stress India to improve human rights situation in the valley.

Dr Shehzad Waseem raised the problems being faced by the people of far-flung areas in reaching Islamabad to appear in tests and interviews for federal government jobs as currently there was no TA and DA admissible for the purpose.

He proposed that the respective departments should either pay TA and DA for such tests and interviews or hold the exams at provincial headquarters. Chaudhry Anwar Bhinder suggested that a Senate special committee on finance be constituted to give recommendations for getting the country rid of foreign debt.

Safdar Abbasi welcomed the proposal and said the proposed committee should also take up the matters of domestic debt and present its recommendation to the house. Mohammad Akram criticized the recent increase in the standard tariff of cars and delay in delivery of vehicles and demanded the ministry concerned look into the matter.

Hadayatullah raised the problems regarding electricity in his area. Sanaullah Baloch said the people of Makran division were facing problems due to the suspension of PIA's international flights to the area.

Syed Sajjad Bukhari raised the issue of parking of unclaimed vehicles at G-8 Markaz and day and night working of auto workshops in the area. He said the CDA should look into these matters which was a matter of concern for the people of the area.

Ms Kulsoom drew the attention of the house towards occupation of people's land in Shahpur area by a man who, she said, was using the name of Bahria for his housing scheme. -APP