PESHAWAR, Jan 26: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani said that his government had the potential to take tough decisions in the larger public interest.

Talking to delegations from Swat, Tank, Peshawar, Mansehra and D.I.Khan, districts on Sunday, he said that the government was aware of the problems faced by the people.

He said that his government had decided to overhaul the service oriented departments and the government institutions had been ordered  to fulfil the mandate of the people and to serve them.

He said that the change, caused by the new government, would soon become visible through the working of the departments.    He said that his government had decentralised health and educational  facilities and these facilities were being made available at district level. Special development packages had been announced for certain districts during his recent visits to these areas and he had planned to visit the whole province where similar packages would be announced.

He said that the past governments had turned a deaf ear to the basic needs of the people which were their right.

He said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government had the backing of the people and it would work in consonance with their aspirations. 

Bad governance in the past was one of the main reasons which made the people vote for the MMA in the NWFP, he said. 

Mr Durrani said that his government would create an atmosphere free of suffocation and the people would heave a sigh of relief.  Meanwhile, the chief minister felicitated the newly elected body of the Mansehra Union of Journalists. In a message, he hoped that they would promote regional journalism on positive and sound footing.