SAHIWAL, March 7: The government will allot 2.3 million acres of land to 100,000 landless farmers and give proprietary rights to 90,000 residents of kutcha abadis in the province.

This was stated by Punjab Governor Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool (retired) while addressing a prize distribution ceremony of the Jashn-i-Baharan here on Thursday.

Gen Maqbool claimed that since Oct 12, 1999, the government had brought revolutionary changes in the country. Welfare of masses had been the top priority of the government, he added.

Distribution of land and proprietary rights to kutcha abadi dwellers was an example of the government resolve to people’s problems, the governor maintained.

The governor said people would be given residential plots of three and five marlas soon on easy instalments. He announced setting up of a surgery unit in the DHQ hospital.

Governor Maqbool said shortage of teachers in the Punjab educational institutions would be overcome soon as the government has planned to recruit 40,000 teachers within three months.

He said the government has laid a strong democratic base in the country.

The governor urged people from different walks of life to live in harmony during Muharram. He said police and other law enforcement agencies personnel have been deployed at sensitive places.

He warned miscreants that strict action would be taken against those who would try to create law and order situation. He asked police personnel to perform their Muharram duties diligently otherwise they would be taken to task.

Earlier, district Nazim Rai Hasan Nawaz said in his welcome address that 75 per cent of the city’s population was without natural gas. He also demanded setting up of a degree college for women and provision of clean drinking water.

Before his departure for Lahore, the governor told newsmen that the government planned to purchase 2.5 million tons of wheat this year. No bungling would be tolerated at the wheat procurement centres and the growers would be paid the right price of their produce.

He said 4,000 police officials were dismissed from service on charges of corruption. He took serious note of the demand of people for shifting the wagons stand outside the city and ordered the DCO for immediate action. Governor Maqbool promised to provide funds for the local press club also.

The governor, soon after landing at Sahiwal, paid a surprise visit to an examination centre set up in Nangal Ambia School instead of his scheduled programme. He also visited the primary section of the school. He ordered provision of benches to the children when he saw them sitting on the ground.