07 February 2004	Saturday	15 Zilhaj 1424

KHANPUR, Feb 6: Cultivators here will have their agri taxes waived as the Punjab government has declared the region calamity-hit following destruction of the cotton crop by heavy rain last year.

At a press conference here, Punjab Minister for Baitul Maal Chaudhry Mohammed Ejaz Shafi said that under chief minister's directive, agriculture arrears' payment had been extended by another 12 months for farmers of the district, who had also been exempted from Abiana and other agri taxes.

He said that 12.5-acre plots would be distributed among the landless tillers shortly, adding that applications had already been received in this connection. -APP