FAISALABAD, Sept 4: Governor Khalid Maqbool said on Tuesday the government had been doing its best to reduce poverty as it had earmarked Rs7.5 billion as Baitul Maal fund and was distributing Rs12.5 billion among the needy through Zakat funds.

He was speaking at the cheque-distribution ceremony among the people who intend initiating their businesses with the financial assistance of philanthropists.

He said it was appreciable that the well-to-do and philanthropists were coming forward and joining hands with the government in helping the deserving segments of society.

Free medical treatment was being extended to 22,000 patients of heart diseases, cancer and hepatitis, he said, adding that the government was also providing Rs500 a month to 646,000 families that were being trained in different fields so that they could be able to earn money to feed their families.

Speaking at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, the governor vowed not to allow any educational institution to increase the fee. He said the HEC and government had been providing enormous resources to the varsities to carry out various development projects.

He urged the faculty members to focus on personality development of students as they could play their role for national development. He also asked the professors to come forward with some workable solutions to the problems facing the general public.

Vice-chancellor Dr Bashir Ahmad informed the governor that a faculty of rural home economics and department of epidemiology & public health, department of child development and family studies, department of management studies & housing, and department of clothing & textile would be established in the institution.