DERA ISMAIL KHAN, June 17: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has declared Dera Ismail Khan district as calamity-hit area and waived water tax in PF-66 constituency for the current year.

He was addressing a public meeting in connection with election campaign of MMA candidate Maulana Lutfur Rehman at Parowa here on Thursday night.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of the opposition in National Assembly and brother of the MMA candidate, provincial ministers and federal and provincial legislators of MMA were also present on this occasion.

The chief minister said that inauguration of laying a pipeline to supply natural gas to the district would be held in the third week of July. He said formalities for holding a ceremony in this regard had been finalized.

The CM also announced a TMA post at Tehsil Parowa and Rs100 million for construction of a tehsil headquarters hospital. He said the provincial government had planned network development in Parowa tehsil and urged the people to cast votes for MMA candidate.

Mr Durrani disclosed that four more sugar mills would be set up in Dera Ismail Khan district which would bring economic revolution in the area. He announced to construct 125-kilometre farm-to-market roads in Parowa tehsil.