ISLAMABAD, Sept 28: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has called for devising a roadmap for accelerated development of rural areas, providing vocational training to women, especially in rural areas , besides stressing the need for revamping Madressahs and the zakat distribution system.

He said this in separate meetings held here on Tuesday to review targets of the ministries of local government and rural development, religious affairs and women development.

Mr Aziz ordered the ministry of local government and rural development to constitute a committee to monitor development works being executed under the Parliamentarians, Tameer-i-Pakistan Programme.

Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Justice (retd) Abdul Razzaq Thahim, Minister of State for Local Government and Rural Development Zafar Iqbal Warraich and the ministry's secretary presented the goals.

Prime Minister Aziz said that the ministry should prepare a strategy for the speedy development of the rural sector and urged it to have a close liaison with district nazims besides facilitating the smooth functioning of local governments.

Stressing the need for revamping the zakat system, Prime Minister Aziz called for a transparent zakat distribution system. During the meeting to review the ministry's goals, the prime minister said that the ministry should focus on providing vocational training to deserving young students.

The ministry should streamline Umra policy to facilitate the prospective pilgrims. Appreciating the role played by Madressahs, the prime minister directed the Ministry to liaise with Madressahs and facilitate them to provide modern education to their students.

In the meeting to review targets of the ministry of women development, Prime Minister Aziz directed the ministry to focus on education, vocational and skills training of women.

Stressing the need for providing women better earning opportunities, he said that Khushhali Bank and Women's Bank should provide loans for small-scale businesses in rural and semi-urban areas.

The Prime Minister asked the Ministry to focus on 'one village, one product' concept facilitating women of a particular village to concentrate on producing one product which should be marketed properly.

Stressing the need for creating gender balance in the public and private sectors, he said that women could contribute in the national development without compromising their cultural, social and religious values. The prime minister urged the ministry to focus on encouraging the private sector to set up vocational and skills training institutes all over the country.

SOCIAL JUSTICE: Prime Minister Aziz said that the government was taking initiatives to provide social justice to all. He said this in a meeting with his advisor on Foreign Affairs, Law, Justice and Human Rights, Sharifuddin Pirzada, who called on him here on Tuesday. They discussed various national and international issues. They also discussed various proposals to improve legal system. -APP