Federal Minister for Population Welfare Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that government has evolved a strategy for stamping out backwardness from politically neglected areas of the country. Special attention has also being paid on elimination of poverty and in this regard the government has initiated Benazir Bhutto Income Support Programme costing Rs 34 billion to facilitate over 3.5 million families of the country.
Addressing a public meeting in Bujwat on Sunday she said that extra-ordinary efforts were being made for the uplift of ignored areas through providing basic amenities to the suppressed and politically deprived masses of far-off areas of the country.
The government was striving hard to accomplish Shaheed Benazir Bhutto' s vision aimed at bringing women into mainstream adding that dream of national development could not be materialised without the involvement of women folk in the overall development process of the country. It was Shaheed Benazir Bhutto who struggled for the cause of women rights and to ensure a respectable status in the society and sacrificed her life for the sake of national cause. The government has focused its special attention on the promotion of democracy at grass root level and strengthening the democratic institutions for converting the country into a strong and real democratic state she said.
She said that in order to accomplish the vision of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto the government was making adequate efforts to redress the problems being confronted by the masses on top priority basis.
The Federal Population Welfare Minister revealed that the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has approved Rs 35 crore for the face lifting of remote and politically ignored areas of NA-111 and under this special package basic facilities would be ensured in these areas. Dr Firdous declared that two women vocational training centres, women Degree College were being established in Bujwat area.
Dr Firdous said that a three Marla housing scheme would soon be started in Sialkot in order to mitigate the accommodation of the low-income group. While an ultra modern labour complex was also being constructed to facilitate the industrial workers of the area and work on the project would be completed in near future.
Federal Minister stressed upon the people that they should forge complete unity among the ranks for foiling the conspiracies of anti-democratic elements in the country. The government was making strenuous efforts purging the country from the menace of militancy and terrorism for ensuring smooth development process she said.
Earlier, the Federal Minister inspected the newly constructed bridge on River Tavi and directed the concerned authorities to complete the remaining work at earliest possible. It is expected that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani will inaugurate the River Tavi Bridge Dr Firdous disclosed. The Federal Minister also inaugurated the medical camp and electricity project in the area.