RAHIM YAR KHAN: Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar said on Saturday that peace talks with the Taliban were pointless if religious groups and political parties were not on the same page to end terrorism.
Addressing the newly-elected office bearers of the district bar association in Rahim Yar Khan, he said the citizens should unite against terrorism.
Talking about development projects, Sarwar said the government had initiated “revolutionary” potable water, educational and health projects with international aid for the people of Rahim Yar Khan.
“As many as 10 filtration plants will be installed in Rahim Yar Khan in a few months… the projected cost of this project is Rs100 million,” he said.
Sarwar said the government was taking “solid steps under a comprehensive strategy” to provide basic facilities to the people of the province.
“The British government is providing £350 million for provision of basic facilities to schools in the province… the government plans to enroll 1 million children in schools in the coming year,” he said.
The governor said the district bar should help provide timely justice to the people.
Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmad Warraich, the newly-elected district bar president, said that he would try his best to meet lawyers’ expectations.
Warraich said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was committed to providing basic facilities to the people of the province and utilising all available resources to lift their living standards.
He requested the governor to promise a university for women, a lawyers’ colony and library in Rahim Yar Khan. He said the provincial government had already announced that an engineering university, an information technology university and a cadet college would be established in the district.
“Free healthcare facilities should be provided to lawyers… a welfare fund should also be set up for them,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2014.