DERA GHAZI KHAN: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed here on Sunday in the presence of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar between the irrigation department and the National Engineering Services Pakistan to construct small intermediate dams on the outlets of mountain drains in the Sulaiman Range.

The project would be completed with Rs1.2 billion and irrigate over 200,000 acres of arid zone, the chief minister was told. Work on a pilot project of four dams was initiated in the first phase of the project, while a total of 13 dams would be constructed on the outlets of each hill torrent located in the Sulaiman Range in Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan.

CM Buzdar was in town on the second leg of his visit to trans-Indus districts of Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan. He visited the shrine of Sakhi Sawar and laid a floral wreath there besides offering prayers.

He later inaugurated a lunger khana and Panahgah (shelter home) that would be supervised by Dera Ghazi Khan Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Jalaluddin Rumi, and also met with notables and party workers.

Mr Buzdar visited the tribal areas of Roughin, Zain and Barthy and met with the locals without protocol. He said that all union councils and tumans of Takht Sulaiman tehsil would be connected with roads. He also announced the upgrade of Sakhi Sarwar Civil Hospital with Rs110 million besides the establishment of an emergency ward there. Furthermore, Rs1 billion were allocated for the completion of Cadet College Fort Munro and another Rs50 million for a water supply scheme in the area.

The CM also announced the establishment of a Rescue 1122 centre here with the provision of four ambulances. He also visited the construction site of Sardar Fateh Muhammad Buzdar Cardiology Institute in Dera Ghazi Khan city to monitor the pace of work. He also met with a delegation of women’s wing of the PTI, led by MPA Dr Shaheena Najeeb.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2021