MULTAN, Nov 15 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Saturday that he would issue instructions to provincial governments to take action against fertilizers hoarders to protect poor farmers’ interests. Fertilizers hoarders should face punishment and poor growers should not suffer losses due to hoarders’ illegal profit-taking practices, Prime Minister  said while addressing a public meeting at Hamidpur Kanora village after laying foundation stone and earthbreaking of two big road schemes worth more than  Rs 4.5 billion here.

Gilani also performed the earthbreaking ceremony  of 36.5 kilometre long Multan-Muzaffargarh additional carriageway and 16.5 kilometre long four-lane Muzaffargarh bypass, a Rs 3.6 billion project to be completed in 30-month period.

Prime Minister Gilani said that federal government was providing a huge subsidy of Rs 32 billion alone on fertilizers to ensure its availability to farmers at reduced price.

He said that PASSCO has started purchasing rice at Rs 1500 per maund and added that price of rice would soon be stabilized in the market. PASSCO will itself lift the rice production from farmers and will pay them the price announced by the government.

He  said that his government enhanced the support price of wheat from Rs 425 to Rs 950 per maund to ensure bumper wheat crop and promised that government will purchase every single grain of wheat production in the forthcoming wheat season.

Prime Minister said, government introduced Rs 34 billion Benazir income support scheme under which poor families will get Rs 1000 per month financial support to help them manage their family budgets easily.

Prime Minister said that land has been made available for establishment of a cadet college in Multan and work on the project will begin soon.

He also announced other mega development projects including Rs 2 billion Aiman Wala Pattan bridge over the river between Uch Sharif and Jalalpur Pirwala that will reduce travelling distance between Karachi and Multan by 100 kilometres. He said that the project  boost economic activity in this area.

Gilani said that work on the DHQ hospital project has already begun in Multan and added that Nishtar Hospital Multan was built in 1953 when Gilani family offered the land for the project which was completed due to efforts made by his father, Syed Alamdar Hussain Gilani, and the Gilani family.

He announced to set up a basic health unit (BHU) at Hamidpur Kanora village and added that he will send instructions to the provincial government to establish high schools for boys and girls in the area.

Gilani pledged to develop infrastructure in all areas across the country irrespective of political affiliations of the people residing there.

He said that he has already approved Sui gas supply schemes for areas including Shershah, Sultanpur Hammar, Khokhar, Ferozpur and Hamidpur and announced that rest of the villages including Aliwala will also get this facility soon.

Prime Minister  said that a separate ministry for postal services has been introduced and financial assistance worth billions of rupees will be distributed among the poor through this service under Benazir Income Support programme.

The premier also announced to introduce health policy for the poor segments of society.

He said that government was extending loans to farmers for enhanced agriculture production and introduced crop insurance scheme to offer them security cover in case their crops are destroyed due to natural disasters like floods, torrential rains and hailstrom. He announced that premium will be paid by the government to support small growers.

Prime Minister said that coalition government was formed at the centre to successfully counter the problems confronting the country through a joint struggle of all parties and political forces.

He pledged to steer the country out of troubled waters and added that Pakistan will soon be making strides in all sectors by virtue of a robust and sustainable development process that will be launched with the help of all coalition partners.

The  Premier said that present government will come up to the expectations of the people and will meet all their development demands.

He said his that party remains committed to the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, adding that democracy, and empowerment of people was their mission. PPP will continue its mission of empowerment of the people through parliament.

Prime Minister  said, it was his desire to address a public meeting in this area and offer thanks to the people because he won Zila council election in 1983, and MNA elections from this constituency in 1987, 1988, 1990, and 1993. He said that PPP candidates MNA Nawab Liaquat Ali Khan and MPA Syed Nazim Hussain Shah also won the 2008 elections from this constituency.

Minister of State for communications Imtiaz Safdar Waraich, MNA Nawab Liaquat Ali Khan, and MPA Syed Nazim Hussain Shah also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, Chairman NHA Altaf Hussain gave briefing to the PM on two road schemes on the occasion of laying of foundation stone of Rs 960 million six-lane road at Vehari Chowk in the city, and ground breaking of Rs 3.6 billion project of Multan-Muzaffargarh additional carriageway and four-lane Muzaffargarh bypass at Chowk Nag Shah.