0
BAHAWALPUR, Sept 22: At least Rs26 billion will be spent on the construction of around 28,000 pucca watercourses in the province under a four-year phased programme. This was given out by Punjab Agriculture Secretary Arif Nadeem while addressing a meeting of the DCOs of Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, and other officials concerned at the Circuit House here on Wednesday.
He said that a sum of Rs20 billion out of the total amount would be contributed by the federal government and the rest by the water user associations and the Punjab government.
The secretary said the water user associations would be formed which would pay only in the shape of labour and masonry charges. In the three districts of Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan, Mr Nadeem said that a total 6,050 cemented watercourses would be built for which some 60 teams would be formed.
The quality and standard of the cemented watercourses would be ensured and President Pervez Musharraf would himself monitor the performance of these teams after every three months.
MEASURES: Punjab Religious Affairs Minister Sahibzada Saeedul Hassan has said the government is taking every possible measure to eliminate sectarianism in the province.
Addressing a seminar here on Wednesday, the minister threw light on steps being taken by the Punjab government for promoting religious harmony among all sects. He said the government had organized various ulema conventions to promote religious harmony and now wanted to hold seminars at the school, college and university level to inculcate a spirit of brotherhood among various sects of students.
Punjab Auqaf Secretary Javed Iqbal Awan and other officials and a number of ulema also addressed the seminar.
KILLED: One person, Dilshad, was killed while his sister sustained serious injuries when a speeding bus (FWD-3488) hit them here on Wednesday. Police have registered a case against the absconding driver.
