January 5, 2003	Sunday	Ziqa’ad 1, 1423

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SHEIKHUPURA, Jan 4: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Saturday inaugurated the desiltation campaign in the Punjab at Chichoki Malian distributary, some 10 kms from here on the Lahore Road.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that efforts for the betterment of the farming community figured high on the agenda of the elected government.

He urged the farmers to actively participate in the on-going desiltation campaign to help ensure smooth flow of the water so that it could reach the tail-end of canals, distributaries and minors.

The CM said that Rs15 million special grant would be provided to the district with excellent performance during the desiltation drive while the second and third position holders would be given Rs10 million and Rs5 million, respectively.

Committees comprising honest PML-Q office-bearers would be constituted at the district level to eradicate the menace of corruption from the grassroots level, he said.

Mr Elahi warned of a crackdown against the corrupt officials in the Agriculture, Irrigation and other departments.

A package for the uplift of cultivators, he said, would soon be announced after the completion of the desiltation campaign.

Punjab Irrigation Minister Aamir Sultan Cheema said committees comprising lawyers, journalists and farmers would be formed in every district to eliminate corruption and mal-administration from the department.

MNAs Chaudhry Bilal Ahmed Virk, Khurram Munawar Manj, MPAs Chaudhry Abid Hussain Chattha, Syed Ali Abbas Gul Agha and Mian Khalid and civil officials were also present on the occasion.

PETTY CRIMES: At least 80 prisoners involved in petty crimes were released from the district jail here on Saturday.

About 110 prisoners had already been released during the month of December.

Accompanied by journalists, superintendent jail and others, district human rights commission chairperson and district and sessions judge Chaudhry Badaruddin ordered their release.

A visitor from Norway, Shahid Gujjar of Gujrat, presented a cheque of Rs160,000 to superintendent jail for the installation of X-Ray plant.