Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday asked the people to support the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) government to ensure continuity of its policies and for progress and prosperity of the country.
Addressing a large public gathering, the prime minister said the coming year would be of great significance as the country would hold its next general elections after the government completes its term for the first time in the history. He said agriculture was the backbone of the country and it was government's priority to provide maximum facilities to increase the yield.
He said the government had lowered the prices of all farm inputs to increase farmers' income and productivity. The prime minister said the government was committed to the uplift of all areas of the country on equal footing and particularly focusing on development of the remote areas to bring these at par with the developed parts.
He referred to the Rs 250 cut in the price of DAP fertilisers and said it would not only help increase the yield, but also enhance their prosperity. He warned black marketers of strict action in case they tried to sell inputs at higher rates. He said the cotton this year also fetched good prices.
He directed the concerned authorities that saline water be treated and provided to the villages. He assured that work on water treatment would begin shortly. He said 2500 farm houses would also be constructed to strengthen the livestock sector.
"What we have done now, was not done in the past 55 years, and we are proud to take this initiative," the prime minister said.
He also gave approval to the construction of Lodhran bypass and said the government had already allocated Rs 500 million for provision of natural gas to the area. He announced provision of natural gas to Duniapur, Kutubpur and Karorpucca and gave approval for the Karorpucca bypass. He said the railway track from Lodhran to Khanewal was being dualised at fast pace.
"Awami Express and Quetta Express trains will now stop at Lodhran," the PM announced amidst loud clapping. Punjab Governor Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool (Retd) said unlike the governments in the past, the present government was taking all the downtrodden on to the path of progress and prosperity. He said the results of economic growth were evident and were trickling down to the lowest tiers.
Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said the government was undertaking reforms in the educational, health and all other sectors to provide best possible facilities to the people living even in the remotest areas of the country. The prime minister earlier inaugurated the 12-km dual railway track from Lodhran to Sher Shah, which will be extended up to Khanewal.