13 January 2004	Tuesday	20 Ziqa'ad 1424

SARGODHA, Jan 12: Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool has said the government is making the distribution of Zakat among the deserving more convenient. Speaking at the cheque distribution ceremony held at Madr-i-Millat hall in Khushab, about 42 kilometres from here, on Monday , he said the Baitul Maal would distribute 20 scholarships among the deserving students in each university. Besides, it would provide funds to 100 patients of hepatitis and rehabilitate as many destitute in each district.

He said the combined marriage ceremony of the poor would be arranged by the Baitul Maal at the Governor's House on Jan 18. He said the greater Thal canal was a gift for the farmers of four districts - Bhakkar, Layyah, Khushab and Jhang - and expressed his confidence that it would help boost agro-based economy.

He assured the residents of Khushab and Jauharabad that Sui gas would be provided in the areas. The facility would be inaugurated in Jauharabad on March 15 and in Khushab on March 30, he added.

The government had taken serious notice of seepage of canal water in the land adjoining the Chashma Jhelum link canal and special steps would be taken to save the land from this menace, he said, also assuring that salinity would be controlled in the Khushab district. Later, he inaugurated one-window operation of Zarai Taraqiati Bank's loan scheme in Jauharabad and a kidney centre at the Khushab THQ hospital.