OKARA, Feb 21: Lending support to the local government system, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Saturday asked Nazims and parliamentarians to set aside their election rivalries and join hands to solve public problems.

"Keep yourself above power politics for better future of the country," he told a big gathering at Haveli Lakha stadium near Deepalpur, about 50 kilometres from here, after attending a mass wedding ceremony of 100 couples.

Sounding a warning, the prime minister said, there was no room for politics of arrogance. "People have already witnessed the fate of those believing in such politics."

Responding to demands by the hosts - former chief minister Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo and his son Mian Khurram Jehangir Wattoo, the Deepalpur tehsil Nazim - he said the government had made a policy to provide water treatment plants throughout the country, at least at each district level. The project would begin from Okara and "I leave it up to District Nazim Syed Sajjad Haider."

At the same time he asked the Nazim to consult the tehsil Nazim for priority, adding the federal government would provide special funds for the plant.

On the demand of electrification of 250 villages of Deepalpur remote areas and the Sutlej belt, he announced Rs300 million for these villages, and said the provision priority would be on the choice of Mian Manzoor Wattoo.

In response to another demand, the prime minister promised that he would get the complete estimate and feasibility for the construction of road from Chunian to Head Sulemanki to decide about it.

He said the provision of agricultural loans without interest was not possible, but the government was planning to further reduce the markup.

Earlier, Mr Jamali participated in the mass wedding of 100 poor couples and observed the Nikah of Nusrat Perveen, a resident of Basirpur, at the rural health centre.

He asked the well-to-so to join hands with the government in eradicating poverty and illiteracy.

At the wedding ceremony, some philanthropists gave donations to the Ameer Begum Welfare Trust, an organization headed by MNA Robina Shaheen Wattoo, the daughter of Mian Manzoor Wattoo.

The prime minister had earlier inaugurated supply of Sui gas worth Rs160 million to the Haveli-Mandi Ahmadabad and Wasawewala. He announced Rs80 million for initiating the project.

APP adds Federal Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Chaudhry Naurez Shakoor said the government was planning to import gas-powered locomotives to ensure cost-effective and environment-friendly railway system in the country.

Speaking at a public meeting at Haveli Lakha, he said the conversion of furnace oil-run locomotives and automobiles into CNG-powered ones would help cut Pakistan's oil import bill significantly.

He said efforts were being made to provide natural gas to people.