PESHAWAR, April 21: The NWFP Minister for Works and Services, Shamsul Mulk, has said the forthcoming referendum is of will importance, because it would vindicate the public opinion directly on the reforms agenda of the present government of Gen Pervez Musharraf.

He was addressing a public gathering at Village Dagai in Nowshera District on Saturday evening.

The minister said deprivation of people of amenities, even after 53 years of independence, was deplorable.

He told the gathering that mismanagement and dishonesty was the root cause of the prevailing poverty and enormous problems, otherwise resource-wise Pakistan was not a poor country.

Referring to the devolution of power plan, the provincial minister said concentration of power was the basic hurdle in the redressal of public grievances.

The government had undertaken the difficult task of delegation of powers at the gross-root level to solve people’s problems locally. The devolution of power was not mere a lips service, but powers were delegated in the real sense, he added.

Commenting on the forthcoming referendum, Mr Shams said accurate and sagacious policies of Gen Pervez Musharraf had saved the country from catastrophe, and therefore his continuation as the President of the Pakistan was most important for the success of new system and uplift of the country.

He appealed to the people to cast their votes in favour of Gen Musharraf to ensure their participation in decision making process.—APP