SARGODHA, May 4: The government is determined to provide maximum facilities to the general public, particularly the farming community, to bring about a green revolution in the country.

This was stated by Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi while speaking at a PML-Q workers convention here on Sunday.

He said he had directed the department concerned to ensure purchase of wheat from farmers without any intervention of middlemen. If any violation was observed in this regard, the corrupt officials would be sent to jail instead of routine transfer or dismissal, he warned.

The chief minister said he had offered a subsidy of Rs0.5 billion to Wapda so that farmers could run their tubewells on flat subsidized rates.

He said he had ordered lining of water courses to ensure supply of irrigation water to tail-enders, and for this purpose an amount of Rs2 billion had been earmarked.

Taking notice of the law and order situation, Mr Pervaiz Elahi said radical changes had been brought about in the police department with an aim to ensure security of life and property of the common man. He said he had directed the police to provide shelter to citizens.

Mr Pervaiz said he had directed all ministers and the Lahore district Nazim to sit in the Muslim League House once a week so that the problems of the people could be resolved. Tehsil Nazims had also been asked to sit in their respective Muslim League Houses once a week.

Meanwhile, Sargodha tehsil Nazim Dr Liaquat Ali Khan and Chaudhry Mohammed Munir of PML-N announced that they were joining the PML-Q.

Earlier, provincial minister and party district president Aamer Sultan Cheema demanded a special package for the district and demanded that party workers should be issued ‘green cards’. He also demanded construction of a motorway interchange at Sial Mor.

Earlier, addressing MNAs, MPAs, district Nazims, DCOs and DPOs of Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar and Khushab districts, the chief minister said the government was prioritizing education, health and the law and order.

He said an amendment to the Local Government Ordinance had been made in consultation with the members of the Punjab Assembly so that no-confidence could not be moved against Nazims by June 30, to ensure smooth functioning of the district governments.

The chief minister said two helicopters had been provided to the Punjab police while 500 new police posts were being created which would be provided with modern modes of communication and equipment, to check the crime rate. For this purpose, the federal government had sanctioned Rs1 billion, he said.

He said all THQs and DHQs hospitals would be linked with the teaching hospitals to provide the latest health facilities to the people through the tele-medicine system.

While talking to Dawn at the residence of provincial minister for colonies Manazir Ali Ranjha, the chief minister said he would announce a special grant for the Sargodha Press Club during his next visit.

He said his government was determined to resolve the problems of the journalists community. He said he would ensure a residential colony for working journalists where plots would be allotted on merit.

Pervaiz Elahi said he had yet not decided about the nominee for PP-30 after the death of MPA Fakhar Iqbal Sindhu. He, however, said Hamid Saleem Warraich would be party’s nominee for the post of district Naib Nazim.