May 31, 2002	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 18,1423

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MULTAN, May 30: The district should be declared calamity-hit following the large-scale devastation caused by recent windstorm and rain.

This was demanded unanimously by Multan district council at its meeting here on Thursday. District Naib Nazim Malik Ameer Dogar presided over the meeting.

The resolution demanded that after declaring the district calamity-hit, a survey of the loss should be carried out and all the victims should be exempt from water cess and agriculture income tax.

Windstorm, having a velocity of 138.6km an hour, accompanied with downpour on Monday last had ruined the mango crop at its premature ripening.

Growers said the fruit dropped in the windstorm could not be used even for preparing mango pickle.

The participants were informed that the National Highway Authority had earmarked Rs45 million for the construction of a dual carriageway from Qadirpur Rawan to Multan. The work on the project would start in the coming fiscal, it was learnt.

Meanwhile, the house increased the entertainment ratio of the district council members to minimum Rs25 and maximum Rs75 per head from Rs5 and 25, respectively.

Convener Ameer Dogar said a three-day workshop to train union council Nazimeen about preparation of the annual financial statements of their respective union councils would be held at the DCO office committee room.

The workshop would start from June 4, he added.