QUETTA, Jan 12: Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousuf has said that the government has taken measures not only to restore peace in Sui, but also to protect the life and property of the people, and important installations in the area.

Speaking to newsmen on the inauguration of the Sibi festival the other day, he said the government would strictly deal with the elements who wanted disturbance in Sui. Jam Yousuf said subversive acts created obstruction in the uplift programme, but the government was determined to execute the plan.

If anti-progress elements were afraid of the development schemes, the government was ready to remove their apprehensions, but violence was not the solution of issues, he said.

The chief minister regretted that some political groups had been complaining that the centre was ignoring Balochistan in the development process, but when the federal government had launched mega projects, they were creating doubts to achieve their political aims.

He lauded the efforts of President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz for launching mega projects. The provincial government, he said, was giving priority to education, health and provision of employment to jobless youths and added that huge funds had been allocated for these sectors.

He expressed satisfaction over the arrangements of the Sibi festival and said delegations from Iran and Afghanistan had made the festival status international, therefore arrangements' criteria should be made of international level.

The Deputy governor-general of Sistan Balochistan (Iran), Iranian and Afghan counsels in Quetta, and provincial ministers were present on the occasion. Earlier, district Nazim of Sibi Nawabzada Hairbair Domki presented the address of welcome.