FAISALABAD, Feb 4: A plan has been chalked out to sell municipal land through open auction to generate funds for development projects. This was stated by district nazim Rana Zahid Tauseef at a meeting of Pakistan Textile Exporters Association here on Friday night.

He said the master plan prepared about a decade ago for the beautification of the city was being changed due to rapidly increasing population, urbanization and industrial requirements.

He said President Pervez Musharraf had been contacted for the release of funds.

He said the provincial government had sanctioned Rs100 million for a sewerage project while another Rs100 million was being spent for the water supply project funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). A team of government officials would sign an agreement of a grant of Rs200 million with Japan.

Mr Tauseef said Rs9 billion would be spent on remodelling of canals in the district in five years. Four international standard universities and teachers training project would be launched with the help of DFID in the city district. The plan was being given final touches, he added.

New traffic signals were being installed to streamline traffic system.

Earlier, PTEA chairman Rana Arif Tauseef highlighted the problems being confronted by the industrialists, exporters and local traders.

MUHARRAM: Mangla Corps Commander Lt-Gen Javed Alam has directed the local administration, police and army troops performing Muharram duty to keep an eye on the activities of suspects around the places of Majalis and processions.