MULTAN, Dec 5: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that Multan is an important agricultural, industrial and tourist region. The prime minister was in the city on Monday to attend the valima of MNA Khwaja Muhammad Sheraz.

The premier met delegations from a cross-section of society, including industrialists, growers and representatives of the local bodies.

Talking to reporters, he said the area could attract tourists from all over the world owing to its rich heritage and culture provided the required infrastructure be put in place.

The premier said he had directed the Punjab government to explore possibilities how the hotel industry could be given incentives in southern Punjab.

He said Multan should be established as the ‘Mango City’ for being house to numerous delicious varieties. He said he had directed the authorities concerned for the expansion of Multan airport so that huge cargo and passenger planes could also be operated from here.

He urged the industrialists to invest in the agro-based industry here to exploit the full economic potential of the area after adding value to farm products. The cultivation of BT (bacillus thurigenesis) cotton would be allowed from the next season. He hoped that this type of cotton would increase per acre yield and income of growers as well.

Shaukat Aziz claimed that the farm sector income had increased considerably during the last three years. To substantiate his point, he said that cotton pickers, who were being paid Rs60 per day last year, were getting Rs120 per day this year.

Later, the prime minister addressed a gathering of PML workers and apprised them of the success of donors conference held in Islamabad on Nov 18.

He said 60 per cent of the pledged amount would come in the form of soft loans while the rest of 40 per cent was grants. ‘We are now evaluating the offers to decide which should be accepted and which should be dropped’, he said.

Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi was also present on the occasion. Making use of the trip, the chief minister attended functions at the Multan Industrial Estate and Multan Institute of Cardiology.

He also campaigned for his ‘Adopt a family programme’ for the rehabilitation of earthquake victims and got assurances for the adoption of 350 families from area philanthropists.