CHAKWAL, Oct 23: Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Tuesday said era of progress had started in the country due to availability of abundant resources generated by the solid economic policies.

He was addressing a big public meeting after inaugurating the Sui gas supply project for Dhudial in Chakwal District. An amount of Rs290 million is being spent on the supply of Sui gas to Dhudial.

Pervaiz Elahi said that three cement factories had been set up in district Chakwal with an investment of one billion dollars.

He said that an amount of Rs11.5 billion had been spent on development in District Chakwal during the last five years. He said that five small dams had been constructed in Chakwal which would resolve irrigation problem in the area. He said that besides completion of five dams, construction of ‘Ghambeer’ dam costing Rs1.95 billion would shortly be started which would irrigate thousands of acres of land.

The chief minister also laid the foundation stone of Government Girls Degree College, Dhudial which would cost Rs3.60 crore. He said that five colleges would immediately be established in district Chakwal.

District Nazim Chakwal, Sardar Ghulam Abbas, addressing the public meeting said that a record number of development projects have been initiated in Chakwal during the last five years. He said that electricity had been provided to 650 villages in Chakwal. He said that had PPP during its government not favoured Talbanization, the situation in Pakistan would have been different. He said that the people of Chakwal would bring about a glorious victory for PML in next general elections. He requested the Chief Minister to contest election from Chakwal.

Earlier, Chief Minister Punjab, addressing the function of giving proprietary rights to the dwellers of katchi abadies and rain affected people at District Complex Chakwal said that the government was not only granting proprietary rights to the dwellers of katchi abadis throughout the province but Rs3 billions were also being spent for providing basic amenities and development work there.

He said that survey regarding all katchi abadies had been completed all over the province under which the process of distribution of proprietary rights to dwellers of all katchi abadies established by December 2006, had been started. He said that huge resources were being spent for providing basic facilities to the people. Ch. Pervaiz Elhai gave documents of proprietary rights to 400 people on the longstanding demand of residents of katchi abadi of Jehangir Colony. He also distributed cheques worth Rs10 million among rain affected people in areas of union councils of Noorpur and Minara.

Chief Minister Punjab laid the foundation stone of Odherwal to Neela via Dulha road which would cost Rs140 million. He also laid the foundation stone of 43 km long road from Odharwall to Molowal which will cost Rs190 million. He also inaugurated postgraduate block of Government College Chakwal, constructed at a cost of Rs2.29 crore. Secretary Colleges, Mubashar Raza gave briefing to the Chief Minister Punjab. Chief Minister also inspected the block.—Agencies