PESHAWAR: Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan last evening [May 26] reaffirmed his Government`s pledge to develop the Frontier Province in various spheres of public interest as early as possible. He was inaugurating the switch-on ceremony of electric supply to Bathian town in Mardan district before a gathering of local villagers and provincial officials. Saying that electric power was indispensable to a country`s economic and industrial progress, the Frontier Premier said that his Government`s programme of electricity expansion was going ahead in a speedy manner. Sooner than expected, every village and hamlet in the province would be provided with electricity ... he declared.

Bathian has received electricity from Takhtbai sub-station. The Premier warmly congratulated the staff and workers on their efficient work. He characterised them as `Pakistan`s devoted consolidators`. He commended their spirit of devotion to duty... .

Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan said that the great asset to a nation`s progress was its unity, faith and discipline... . Pathans, he claimed, have since the establishment of Pakistan shown their mettle to the outside world .... . Dawn Peshawar correspondent