ISLAMABAD, Aug 19: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has commended the peaceful and orderly conduct of the first phaseof local bodies elections in the NWFP and rest of the country.

He was talking to NWFP Governor Khalilur Rahman who met him at the Prime Minister’s House here on Friday.

The prime minister said the first phase of the local bodies polls marked an important milestone in the devolution process initiated by President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

He said a high turnout of voters testified to the people’s confidence in the district government system and their political maturity.

He expressed the confidence that this journey would continue in future as well and the second phase of these elections would be just as smooth and peaceful.

Mr Aziz also renewed the federal government’s commitment to expediting development in the NWFP, especially FATA, with a view to bringing it on a par with the developed regions of the country.

Referring to the Khushal Pakistan Programme, recently unfolded by the government, he said it was destined to bring about marked improvement in the quality of life of the people, particularly with regard to provision of basic amenities like gas, electricity, clean drinking water and roads.

Matters relating to the ongoing development schemes and projects in the province, law and order situation and related issues also came under discussion during the meeting.

The governor briefed the prime minister on the situation in NWFP and thanked him for the continued support of the federal government in the development of the province.