LAHORE, March 27: Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool on Tuesday thanked people and ulema for showing unity and extending cooperation to maintain law and order on the occasion of Ashura, hoping they would continue to do so for lasting peace in the country.

Talking to reporters at Governor’s House after a briefing on provincial food and irrigation departments, he said maintaining peace during the first 10 days of Muharram was a hard task. But, thank God the occasion passed without any trouble, he said.

Governor Maqbool said police, administration, army and district Nazims unitedly struggled to avoid any untoward incident during Muharram. “I am especially happy with district Nazims who dispelled the impression that law and order during Muharram could not be controlled without the deputy commissioners,” he added.

He said except for two minor incidents at two places, it was all peace during Ashura. “Credit also goes to ulema for promoting brotherhood on the occasion,” he continued.

The governor said despite its own requirement, the Punjab gave its share of water to Sindh only for the sake of national integrity.

According to the Water Apportionment Accord, provinces would get their share of water according to their historical uses if there was any shortage (of water) in the country, he reiterated.

Earlier, during the briefings on the food and irrigation departments, he said the government had made a Rs200 million project to tame the Mithawan hill torrent in Dera Ghazi Khan. It would also spend another Rs500 million for taming 12 more hill torrents in the area.

He said the completion of the hill torrent projects would help prevent damage to crops and installations every year and expand the area under cultivation.

He said the province required foreign assistance for repairing its irrigation network. But there was need for any such assistance for reforming the system.

He directed the food department to procure all the announced 2.5 million metric tons of wheat directly from farmers this season. Start preparing for the procurement at the official support price immediately, he ordered.

The governor said he would personally visit all the wheat procuring centres to ensure that the farmers did not have any trouble, he said.

He asked sugar mills owners to clear the dues of growers, also directing all DCOs to forthwith start constructing roads in their respective areas with the huge sugarcane cess funds.