New province for Southern Punjab to end sense of deprivation: PM
MUZAFFARGARH, Sept 17 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Saturday, reiterating creation of a new province for the people of Southern Punjab, said it would end their sense of deprivation.Addressing a public gathering here after performing the ground-breaking ceremony of the multi-million housing project for flood-affected people, Gilani said people would reject those who were against the creation of a new province.Gilani assured the large gathering of “a new province” that the new province would be a guarantee to their rights.The Prime Minister delivered his address in Seraiki language and said it was due to demand of the native people who were desirous of getting a separate province.
During the ceremony, Gilani was informed that the New Muzaffargarh City project would comprise 1274 new homes to be built with the donations collected by the people of Turkey to help their flood-hit brethren in Pakistan.
A 432-kanal piece of land has been allocated for the purpose in the city’s suburbs.The Prime Minister was informed that 500 houses would be built in Fazalpur and another 346 in Jampur tehsil of Rajanpur district. 
Another 2000 homes would be built in Shikarpur (Sindh) and 500 in Dera Allah Yar (Balochistan). The overall cost of the houses being built for flood-hit people of aforesaid areas was estimated at US$ 138 million. The work on the initiative began in March 2011 and it would be completed in 700 days by Feb 2013, officials said.
Prime Minister Gilani said that Turkey would build 4620 residential units for the flood affected people of Pakistan.  He said other ancillary facilities like schools, mosques, health centres would also be constructed.
Prime Minister Gilani lauded the Turkish assistance to Pakistan in the massive reconstruction effort and said its leadership was following the Sunnah of Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) in helping those in need.
He recalled the visits of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife last year, and handing over of newly constructed houses to the homeless affected by the devastating floods.The Prime Minister said he decided to stay with the people of his country who were in dire need of assistance and directed the Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to instead lead the Pakistan delegation to New York to address the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Prime Minister also paid rich tributes to the people of Pakistan who have braved all odds and stood up to face the challenge with courage and determination. He said the nation was confronting extremism and terrorism and natural calamities and would also successfully manage to go through the current phase of heavy flooding.
Prime Minister Gilani urged the people of Pakistan to reach out to help their brethren who were homeless and do as much as possible so that they may be rehabilitated without any delay.
Gilani also paid rich tributes to the people of Muzaffargarh who were staunch supporters of Pakistan Peoples Party and had rendered numerous sacrifices. He said the party drew its strength from the people and would do everything to bring all facilities of life at their doorsteps.
The Prime Minister said people of Muzaffargarh would be provided facilities of motorway, modern airport and by-passes which would bring revolution in the area.
He said an installation of PARCO refinery would be set up in the vicinity which would generate employment in the area.
Gilani said the government was elected for five years and assured the people that it would maximize its efforts to provide facilities to people during rest of its tenure.
The event was also attended by Turkish ambassador to Pakistan, Minister for Textile Industry Makhdoom Shahabuddin, MNA Jamshed Dasti, Chairman Baitul Mal Zamurrad Khan, Governor Punjab Latif Khosa and Qayyum Jatoi.
He was also accompanied by the members of Relief Committee constituted by the Prime Minister; Senator Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khurshid Shah, Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Nazar Mohammad Gondal and MNA Qamar Zaman Kaira.