MUZAFFARGARH, Nov 1: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi announced on Thursday provision of natural gas to Alipur and Jatoi cities. Addressing a public meeting at Alipur Degree College, Mr Elahi said embankments would be erected along the River Chenab to save lands from erosion.

He said postgraduates classes would be started in degree colleges of Alipur and Jatoi. He said all middle schools in Muzaffargarh would be upgraded to high schools, high schools to higher secondary schools and all inter colleges to degree colleges. He also announced bar rooms for Alipur and Jatoi bar associations.

When Pakistan Muslim League convenor Allah Dad Khar complained about non provision of local council budgets to the district for the last two years, the chief minister announced Rs2 million to each union council nazim.

Mr Elahi also criticised Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto and her husband Asif Zardari.

He appealed to PML-Nawaz supporters to vote for PML-Q candidates in the coming elections. He said those who would vote for the PML-N would only be favouring the PPP.

He said south Punjab owed him much because his government had launched and completed record development projects here.

Earlier, the chief minister landed in Muzaffargarh and inaugurated the social security hospital, now named as Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi Social Security Hospital. He also laid foundation stone of Ring Road and a labour colony. The chief minister said he had ordered the district coordination officer to construct a press club in Muzaffargarh.

About 20,000 people were present at the meeting amid strict security measures.

— Correspondent