RAHIM YAR KHAN, Nov 30: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Thursday announced an allocation of Rs11 billion for the remodelling of canals in the district to meet irrigation needs.

Addressing a public gathering at Chowk Sawetra near Sadiqabad, he announced upgradation of 50 middle schools for boys and girls, laying of 100km-long new roads, introduction of CNG rickshaw scheme, a bus for girls degree college and a new intermediate college for girls in Sadiqabad.

He told the audience who had been brought from all parts of the district by the administration and public representatives by impounding public transport that a heart cure centre would be established at the District Headquarters Hospital, while each THQ hospital of the district would be upgraded.

The CM said a huge project of drinking water and sewerage would soon be launched for the district which would cost Rs150 million. He also announced distribution of 10,000 plots of five-marla each among the poor and 12.5 acres each for 10,000 landless farmers. He rather launched the scheme for landless farmers by giving ownership rights to 590 tenants of the Khanpur sugar farms.

Saying that he wanted to make Rahim Yar Khan a model district in Punjab, Pervaiz Elahi promised 70 land levellers to level farm land in a bid to save irrigation water and increase crop yield. He announced the establishment of a school for special children in Khanpur. The project would cost Rs40 million.

The chief minister asked the authorities concerned to fill all vacancies in public sector schools in the district.

Earlier, the chief minister attended a meeting of ruling party ministers, members and leaders at Jamaldin Wali. He also had a brief meeting with Rais Munir Ahmad at Bhong. Federal interior minister Zafar Iqbal Warraich, MNA Rais Munir Ahmad, Liaqatpur nazim Makhdoom Mubeen Ahmad, Sadiqabad nazim Taloot Saleem Bajwa, former MPA Asghar Koreja, provincial PML joint secretary Shauqat Daood, MNA Maj Tanveer and district PML president Makhdoom Musharraf Husain also addressed the meeting.

Public, meanwhile, faced problems as the administration had impounded a good number of wagons and buses two days ago. Those left behind were taken off the roads by their owners. An unprecedented rush was seen at the railway stations of Sadiqabad, Khanpur and Rahim Yar Khan where delayed arrival and departure of trains multiplied commuters’ miseries.