The new Congress government in Andhra Pradesh would soon formulate a bill providing for five per cent reservation for minorities in government jobs and educational institutions.

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Minorities Welfare Mohammad Fareeduddin made the announcement in the state assembly during Question Hour.

Asserting that the government was committed to provide reservation for minorities, he said Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy would soon announce the necessary measures to give effect to the pre-poll promise.

Earlier, assembly members cutting across party lines asked for a substantial hike in budgetary allocation for minorities' welfare and improved facilities for promotion of education and employment facilities for them.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) member Gafoor demanded a special package for the minorities.

More reports from Andhra Pradesh