SANA

KALA SHAH KAKU, Nov 12 (SANA): Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said the government will strengthen the parliament, national institutions and ensure freedom of media.

Addressing a public meeting in Kala Shah Kaku near Lahore on Wednesday after inaugurating wheat sowing campaign, he said the government will empower the people economically and give them representation at all levels.

He said all the political parties have rendered unprecedented sacrifices for the restoration of democracy in the country and we will continue our struggle for the protection of people’s rights.

Referring to the economic crisis facing the country, the Prime Minister vowed to develop the agriculture sector on modern lines to pull the country out of the economic crunch.

He said the government has given a subsidy of thirty two billion rupees on fertilizers to boost the agriculture yield. He said support price of wheat has been increased to nine hundred and fifty rupees from four hundred and twenty five rupees to encourage the farmers to grow wheat at more land.

Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said water projects would be initiated to overcome the shortage of water for irrigation and power generation.

The Prime Minister said Sprinkle water project at a cost of eight billion rupees has been launched to avoid wastage of water while ECNEC had already approved the construction of Basha Dam.

Speaking on the occasion, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Shahbaz Sharif said that for overcoming the energy crisis the Punjab government will build one hundred wind mills with the financial cooperation of France.

Ends-SANA-AR