MANDI BAHAUDDIN, Sept 21: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has said it is vital for national integrity and survival that the president retains his uniform.

He said those asking the president to take off uniform were doing no service to democracy, adding the president had always endeavoured for public welfare.

Addressing a public rally at Quaid-i-Azam Sports Ground on Tuesday, the CM said the government was strong and its agenda of development and prosperity would continue at all costs. The development funds would be distributed though PML office-bearers in future.

The CM said his government had doubled the budget for the agriculture sector and would deliver new and better seed varieties to peasants next year. About the education sector, he said free textbooks would be provided up to the matric level.

He said development schemes worth Rs1 billion had been approved for the district, which he said he regarded as his second home. As much as Rs160 million had been provided for a protective spur along Chenab, some Rs200 million for upgrade and establishment of colleges and schools, over Rs400 million for roads, Rs100 million and a bus for the Jinnah Public School, Rs8.5 million for a girls high school at Mohalla Sufipura and Rs10m for a boat bridge at Jehlum near Malikwal.

He said Sui Gas would be provided to Phalia and Sheikhan towns and 30 more villages electrified with Rs20 million. Earlier, MNA Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry called upon the CM to take strict action against the corrupt bureaucracy in the district, which, he said, had earned bad name for the government.

At a meeting with leaders of Anjuman Tajran and DPSC chairman Naseerudin Dar at MPA Hameeda Waheed's office, the CM promised to establish a social security hospital, a passport office and a small industrial estate in the city.

He also announced Rs2.5 million and one kanal tract for the press club building during a briefing at Rangers Rest House. He visited the PML-Q district office and parliamentary secretary Hameeda Waheed. He also inaugurated a gas supply project at Cheema Chowk.