LAHORE, Dec 8: The Pakistan Awami Tehrik has declared the year 2003 as the year of the masses and decided to set up public complaint cells all over the country.

The cells, one for each National Assembly constituency, will provide legal help to the complainants besides pursuing their cases/problems in various government and non-government offices. One such cell is already functioning in Model Town, Lahore.

The PAT is also planning to establish orphanages and shelters for the destitute men and women. Land for establishing first such institution has been acquired in Township as a detailed programme for rest of the country will be announced soon.

Talking to party activists on Eid day, PAT chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri urged them to gird up their loins for serving the masses. He said it was the first duty of the government to safeguard the interests of the masses and relieve them of price hike and unemployment.

He urged the government to widen means of production and open closed factories.

Terming the agriculture sector backbone of the national economy, he regretted that it was being deprived of due attention. He demanded that the government should offer a package for the sector by providing cheap electricity and diesel for tubewells and farm machinery and inputs at affordable prices.

He said democracy had been restored in the country after three years and the politicians should establish a healthy political culture instead of repeating the past mistakes.