LAHORE, June 16: Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said on Monday the proposed provincial budget for 2003-04 reflected priorities and national reconstruction vision of the PML-Q, and aspirations of the people.

“It reflects the government’s policy to promote public participation in the national affairs,” the CM said while talking to a delegation of the PML-Q from southern Punjab.

He said resources had been distributed in the proposed budget keeping in view the principle of eliminating backwardness. This was against the past practice of using development funds only for the big cities, he added.

He said all the areas had been included in the development process. In fact, a major chunk of the resources was being spent on developing the neglected areas in the province, he said.

According to the CM, excellent working relations had been developed between the province and the district governments, as both represented public opinion. All activities of the Nazims and the MPAs should direct towards public service and welfare, he said.

He said the 33 per cent reduction in the power bills of farm tubewells would provide a relief to the farmers and increase agriculture production. He hoped that the introduction of flat water rate would stop exploitation of farmers by patwaris.

Mr Elahi said during the next fiscal year, around 4,000 new power connections for farm tubewells would be given whereas the figure would be 5,000 in every coming year. The government was implementing a comprehensive programme of village electrification, he added.

PML-Q Secretary-General Arshad Lodhi said a comprehensive plan was being chalked out for the party’s reorganization. The CM would meet the MPAs at district level to make the government’s contact with people more effective, he said.