PM for addressing urban-rural disparity through development

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani outlining the priorities of the government for the uplift and development of rural Pakistan, which remained neglected in past, on Friday called for addressing the urban-rural disparity. He directed the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to come up with concrete and specific proposals in consultation with the National Reconstruction Bureau to address and bridge the urban-rural disparity in the country.
The Prime Minister expressed these views in a briefing by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development at the PM House this afternoon.
He said the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development should focus on government’s priorities especially on the 100-day programme announced by him to ensure the provision of basic necessities of life to the people at their doorsteps.
The Prime Minister said that regularization and development of Kachi Abadis, development of rural housing on state lands - 5 Marla Scheme, rural reconstruction and enterprise development towards rural prosperity and poverty alleviation, construction of rural access roads, provision of clean drinking water, development of model villages are some of the priority areas of the democratic government which the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development should focus for its early realization.
He asked the Ministry to examine and re-evaluate in consultation with the provincial governments such rural development programmes that are overlapping so as to curb wasteful expenditure.
He said that feasibility of all future development programmes for the rural areas should be formulated in close consultation with the provincial governments.
The Prime Minister also asked the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to study the best practices being followed in other countries with regard to local government and rural development so as to benefit from their experience.
He also emphasised the need for better coordination with the provincial governments and line ministries and streamlining the working of the training institutions to make them more effective.
Earlier, Minister for Local Government & Rural Development, Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and Secretary Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development briefed the Prime Minister about the working of the Ministry and the status of various development programmes.
The Prime Minister was informed that Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development needs to focus on its assigned role of coordination on national policy, strategy and programme preparation and supervision of their implementation with regard to local government and rural development.
The meeting was informed that feasibility report for the construction of 1200 km rural access roads has been completed and work will be started as soon as the funds are available.