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CE promises development of Northern Areas

CHILAS: Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf on Friday assured the people of Northern Areas that his government would give full attention to the development of these areas.

"I am fully mindful of the sacrifices rendered by the Northern Areas for the cause of Kashmir and Pakistan," he said while addressing an unscheduled public meeting in Chilas.

Thousands of people assembled within no time in the ground adjacent to main Chilas market as the Chief Executive reached there.

The jubilant people chanted full-throated slogans of 'Pakistan Zindabad,' 'Pakistan Army Zindabad', and 'General Musharraf Zindabad', on the occasion.

He said the government has allocated Rs 200 million for poverty alleviation programme of Northern Areas including Chilas.

"You are as patriotic as any other Pakistani," he said and added; "I salute your bravery, valour and gallantry."

The Chief Executive said the government would make sure that public money was spent honestly and judiciously.

He said army monitoring teams would be used to ensure proper utilisation of public money.

He called on the people of the Northern Areas to forge unity in their ranks and maintain peace and order to pave way for foreign investment in their picturesque area.

He said Rs 1 billion would be used for the development of the Northern Areas.

He underlined the need for promotion of tourism industry in the Northern Areas. "It is a very beautiful area and I assure you that government would not neglect this region."

He called on the people to give up their trivial differences for the sake of development of their areas. APP