BAHAWALNAGAR, Nov 27: Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has announced a development package of Rs520 million for the district. Addressing a big public meeting at Sutlej Park here on Sunday, he said the Punjab government had enhanced education budget from Rs1 billion to Rs8 billion so that all schools in the province could be provided with basic facilities.

He said all middle schools of the province would be upgraded during the next three years.

Talking about the health sector, the chief minister said all rural centres, THQ and DHQ hospitals were being upgraded. He said a sum of Rs11 billion had been earmarked for clean drinking water supply in the south Punjab which also included sewerage and construction of roads plans.

Speaking of the agriculture sector, Pervaiz Elahi said the Punjab government would provide laser levellers at union council level which would help farmers for better yield.

He said the government was paying special attention to curb the incidence of water theft and punishment in such cases would be enhanced from six months to three years.

On this occasion, the Punjab chief minister announced Rs80 million for the construction and widening of Bahawalnagar city roads.

Federal Religious Affairs Minister Ijazul Haq, Punjab Zakat Minister Haji Khadim Husain Wattoo, PML candidate for NA-189 Chaudhry Ali Akbar and District Nazim Mian Mumtaz Ahmad Matiana also addressed the meeting.

The chief minister and other speakers appealed to the people to cast vote to the PML hopeful on Dec 13.

Meanwhile, addressing a meeting of the UC nazims and councillors at Canal Rest House, the chief minister called upon them to shun their petty differences regarding local polls and come forward to serve the masses in their respective areas.

He said 32 UCs of NA-189 (Bahawalnagar-II) will be provided with Rs2.5 million grant each.

Earlier, on his arrival the chief minister laid the foundation-stone of Bahawalnagar Bypass Road and announced a grant of Rs260 million for the project.