SUKKUR, April 18: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said gas, electricity, water, health and education facilities will be provided to rural areas under the Khushhal Pakistan Programme. He said the government was working to improve the lot of the masses. The prime minister was inaugurating wheat harvesting in Khangarh, Ghotki district, on Monday.

He observed that Pakistan had obtained a bumper wheat crop of more than 22 million tons in the current season. He said the country had produced over 15 million

bales of cotton which was a record.

He said the procurement price of wheat had been increased from Rs350 per maund to Rs400 and the price of cotton would be fixed at Rs975 per maund to improve the living standard of peasants.

Mr Aziz maintained that due to heavy rains this year, rivers and canals were flowing full which would give a boost to agriculture.

He said the government was taking measures to reduce prices of fertilizers and pesticides to benefit peasants.

He said use of modern technology in the agriculture sector was being encouraged.

He said easy loans would be provided to peasants for purchase of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and other agricultural inputs.

He observed that Pakistan was on the verge of bankruptcy six years ago but the present government had made the country stable economically. He said the country had got rid of foreign aids.

The prime minister announced Rs50 million for providing electricity, gas, roads and other basic amenities in the Ghotki district.

The chief minister also announced Rs20 million for establishment of an engineering college in the district.

Earlier, District Nazim Ali Gohar Khan Mahar in his welcome speech apprised the prime minister of development works being carried out in the district.

Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Federal Agriculture and Food Minister Sikandar Hayat Boosan, Federal Narcotics Minister Ghaus Bux Mahar, former Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar, MNAs and MPAs were present on the occasion.