VEHARI, Sept 28: Governor Khalid Maqbool said on Thursday the project of provision of gas in this region would be completed before June next.

At an open kutcheri at the Circuit House, he said he had fulfilled the demand of the people. He said President Musharraf had, during his last visit here, promised to provide gas to the district.

The project cost Rs3.8 billion which would be borne by the federal government and the SNGPL. About 1.3 million people would benefit from it, he added.

The areas which would benefit from the project include Vehari, Mailsi, Burewala, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar and parts of Bahawalpur.

People from various walks of life flooded the venue and most of the complaints were against Mepco, police, Nadra, ZTBL, PTCL and Pakistan Baitul Maal.

The governor issued orders to redress grievances of the complainants. Some farmers demanded that water cess and agriculture loans should be written off. The governor assured them that relief would be provided to the farmers of cotton affected areas.

Some people protested against patwari Zaman for his corruption, while some traders of DPS Road protested against the administration for forcibly closing their shops ahead of his (governor’s) visit. The governor ordered immediate opening of their shops.

He announced that two more utility stores would be opened in Vehari. He distributed cheques under micro-credit scheme of ZTBL among five deserving women. He also distributed cheques among 39 deserving people.