VEHARI, March 31: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has announced Rs300 million for the provision of gas facility to the Vehari district. Speaking at public meetings in Burewala and Vehari, the chief minister said that Rs100 million would be provided by the district government while the remaining amount would be given by the Punjab government.

He also directed the authorities concerned to upgrade Burewala Degree College and two higher secondary schools of Gaggo Mandi and Sheikh Fazal. The government, he said, was spending billions of rupees to modernize the existing irrigation system while canals and water channels were being bricklined to check seepage and wastage of water.

After completion of the work, he said these would be made operational to ensure the supply of water to farmers at tail-end. Laying foundation stone of Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi Stadium in Burewala, the chief minister announced a Rs60 million grant for the upgradation of Burewala Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.

He also inaugurated the post-graduate block of Government Girls College in Vehari. He said Rs2.5 million grant had been allocated for improvement of the local Deaf and Dumb School and for the provision of a school bus.

The chief minister announced the upgradation of Tibba Sultanpur and Luddan College. He said that a sum of Rs4 million had been set aside for a fire brigade vehicle in Tibba Sultanpur.

The Punjab government, he said, would provide funds for the electrification of 15 villages in Luddan area. In addition, he said that Rs150 million grant would be provided to Vehari TMA for the purchase of new furniture in various government schools and the repair of roads.

Earlier, the chief minister inaugurated the distribution of free books among primary students in Thingi High School in Vehari district.