ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: Prime minister Shaukat Aziz is likely to address the nation in the last week of Ramazan to present the agenda of his government, particularly relating to jobs and employment.

In his recent meetings with party MNAs, the prime minister made it clear that allocations from the prime minister's development funds would depend on legislators' performance in parliament and not as a right.

Under a plan, the ruling party candidates who were defeated in election 2002 and secured second position may get development schemes.

Prime Minister Aziz unveiled his plan during his meetings with party MNAs belonging to Gujranwala and Faisalabad divisions.

The prime minister said his government believed in upholding democratic norms and traditions and it would continue to make efforts to strengthen the democratic system in the country. However, he said, the treasury and opposition had a collective responsibility to work for the stability and continuity of the democratic system.

He asked the MNAs to ensure their maximum attendance of the house proceedings and to take part in debates on national issues.

Those who called on the prime minister were: Junaid Mumtaz Joya, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Tahir Bashir Cheema, Asad Murtaza Gilani, Abdul Qadus Rajar and Ghous Bakhsh Mahr. The prime minister also reviewed the targets and goals of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

In his meeting with lawmakers from Gujranwala who included speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain, chairman special parliamentary committee on Kashmir, NRB Chairman Danyal Aziz and President of Parliamentarians Doctors Forum Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan, the prime minister said a media centre was being set up in Islamabad to provide employment opportunities.

Prominent among those from Faisalabad division were: federal law minister Muhammad Wasi Zafar, Minister of State Asjad Malhi and others.

Similarly, the prime minister said that the construction work was being accelerated and two new five star hotels were being built in the private sector, besides construction of new Islamabad airport was also being taken in hand immediately.

The prime minister said that textile cities and industrial estates would be set up all over the country on private-government partnership basis.

He asked the ruling party members to keep liaison with public affairs wing being established at the prime minister's secretariat and provide blueprints of their respective developmental schemes for evaluation and release of funds.

In response to a member's proposal for waiving of duty on Hepatitis B drugs, the prime minister said there was no duty levied on Life-saving drugs and these include drugs meant for Hepatitis and heart diseases.

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