KASUR, Aug 31: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday firms delaying development projects would be disqualified.

He said this at a meeting reviewing the development activities in Kasur.

Mr Sharif said that Lahore– Kasur Road would be completed at the earliest. He said the government had planned removing illegal encroachments under which operations were being carried out. He said poor vendors, however, should be treated leniently so that they do not face hardship due to closing of their business.

The chief minister announced Rs500,000 for the parents of two children murdered after rape in Kasur and assured that justice would be provided to the family.

Mr Sharif said he was not happy at delay in completion of Lahore–Kasur road, adding that the construction work of the road should be completed by Sept 25. He ordered the officials that trees be planted along both sides of service road of Lahore–Kasur Road and lights be installed.

He said a committee consisting of elected representatives and local industrialists should be made to look after trees and lights installed on the road.

The chief minister directed the chief secretary to take immediate measures to complete the road on time. He asked the contractors to complete development projects within stipulated time. He ordered the cancellation of the contract of a firm for delaying the construction of 13 kilometre Kasur–Ganda Singhwala Road while ordered another contractor to complete Kahna–Kasur Road by Sept 25 or face action. He also ordered the construction of 101km Kasur–Depalpur Road and hiring the services of Frontier Works Organisation for the purpose.

The chief minister directed the Kasur district coordination officer to improve sewerage system in the city and medical facilities in Chunian Hospital. He said elected representatives should be consulted for development projects. Mr Sharif also visited the residence of two brothers who were sodomized and murdered by a man and expressed his sympathies with their parents. He said that justice would be provided to the family. He announced Rs10,000 for a sub-inspector and Rs30,000 each for a constable and a razakar (volunteer) for identifying the accused involved in the incident.