Dawn November 17, 2006

LAHORE, Nov 16: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has expressed satisfaction over the people-to-people contact between Pakistan and India aimed at establishing peace in the region which will help gear up the process of social development.

He was talking to a delegation, headed by Abhay Singh Chautala, the son of a former Indian Punjab chief minister, and political leader Ome Prakash Chautala at the Chief Minister’s House here on Thursday.

The chief minister stressed that the process of mutual contacts between the political, cultural and literary delegations should continue which would help the masses of both the countries understand problems of each other and promote tolerance.

In order to alleviate poverty and ignorance, both the countries should benefit from the reforms brought about in the field of development.

The chief minister said the government was providing ample funds for the protection and maintenance of the holy places of Hindus, Sikhs and other religious minorities in the province.

Abhay Singh said there were vast opportunities of cooperation between the Punjab and the East Punjab in agriculture and other fields. He expressed gratitude to Pervaiz Elahi for restoration of Katas Raj.