PESHAWAR, Feb 22: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has planned a housing project at lush green Shimla Hill Station, a popular tourist spot in Abbottabad district.Replying to a supplementary question in the assembly here on Wednesday, Minister for Local Government Bashir Ahmad Bilour said that his department had issued directives to the district officer revenue to acquire about 1,400 kanals piece of land for the scheme.

Owing to non-provision of basic facilities, construction of residences has not been started. However, Mr Bilour claimed that water, gas and electricity were being provided to the township.

He told the lawmakers that 11 development authorities had been functioning in different districts of the province for designing township schemes and other uplift projects. The provincial government would set up authorities in other districts too, he added.

He said that Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti had directed to look into Kaghan Development Authority, which was approved in 1996. He said that Rs200 million had been sanctioned for the authority.

He said that development authorities would be established in Shangla and Kohistan districts, provided lands for new townships were available in those areas.

Abdul Satar Khan of PML-N said that development authorities were functioning in some districts while backward areas were being ignored. He said that government should focus on less developed districts instead of establishing authorities in developed districts like Peshawar and Abbottabad.

Responding to a question moved by Noor Sahar, Mr Bilour said that plots had been sold in Kohat, Mardan, Swabi and Mansehra districts for construction of private educational institutions and government offices on subsidised rates.

The assembly passed The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Publication of the Holy Quran (Elimination of Printing and Recording Errors) Bill, 2012. The bill is aimed at ensuring publication and recording of the text of the Holy Quran free from errors of printing and recording.

Law Minister Barrister Arshad Abdullah introduced The National Disaster Management (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Amendment, Bill 2012.

The assembly also condemned resolution of US congressmen, who criticised extra-judicial killings in Balochistan and proposed sovereignty for Baloch people.

Through a unanimous resolution, the treasury and opposition benches termed the US lawmakers' motion an attack on Pakistan's sovereignty and security. The house called upon the federal government to strictly refrain the US government and Congress from interfering in the internal affairs of Pakistan.

The legislators flayed the claim of US congressmen that Baloch people were facing political and racial discrimination and being killed in extra-judicial encounters. Speaker Karamatullah Khan Chagharmatti was presiding over the proceedings.

"This house believes that after suspension of supplies for Nato forces in Afghanistan and closure of Shamshi Airbase, America is pressurising Pakistan and creating lawlessness. But such tactics will remain unproductive," said the resolution read by Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour.

Mr Bilour asked federal government to take political forces into confidence and start meaningful dialogue to resolve problems of Baloch people.

He said that innocent people were being targeted and bodies were found in Balochistan. He said that the issue could be resolved through political dialogue. He urged the centre to announce general amnesty in Balochistan.

Javed Abbasi of PML, who had submitted adjournment motion in the assembly against contentious resolution in the House of Representatives, said that the motion reflected nefarious designs of the US government against Pakistan. He said that Americans were trying to test nerves and sentiments of Pakistanis through such resolutions.

Mr Abbasi said that Baloch leaders had admitted that they had held meetings with the Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher in London who had introduced the resolution. He alleged that foreign hands were helping insurgency in Balochistan.

Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal's MPA Mufti Kifayatullah said that the resolution had shocked the whole nation. He said that America should not be considered a friend. Balochistan was being liberated like East Timor, he said, adding America was trying to make India a regional power.

He alleged that America was distributing funds among some elements to destabilise Pakistan. He said that Pakistan should quit the US-led war against terrorism, completely stop supplies to Nato in Afghanistan and closely watch movement and activities of US citizens.