SIALKOT, July 3: Punjab Governor Salman Taseer has announced establishing a girls degree college and a women vocational training institute in PP-121 constituency.

The governor visited Sialkot on Thursday as part of his election campaign for the PPP candidate ahead of by-elections scheduled to be held on Saturday (tomorrow).

Addressing party workers at Sultan Flour Mills in Gul Bahar after inaugurating the gas supply project at Jhai-Jhulki, the governor pledged to provide gas facility to border villages of Gondal, Chaprar and Saidpur near Bajwat, establishment of Nadra office at Bajwat and sub-campus of the Punjab University at Sialkot.

At least 12 PML-Q nazims of union councils and a large number of their supporters announced joining the PPP on the occasion. PPP MNA Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and local PPP leaders were also present.

The governor said the government had decided to bring these neglected areas on a par with the developed region of the country.

He urged the people to help the government in curbing the menace of extremism and promoting peace and religious harmony in the country.

Earlier, the governor was given a warm welcome by the management of Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) on his arrival at the airport.

DCO Capt Atta Muhammad Khan (retired), SIAL chief executive Azeem Zafar and senior vice-chairman Dr Sarfraz Bashir were also present.

The governor said that philanthropists and the private sector had played a pivotal role in the economic development of Sialkot.

Mr Taseer said the Sialkot airport would help open new vistas of economic development in the country and bring boom in the industrial sector.

He urged local exporters to focus on the diversification of traditional and non-traditional items and explore new international markets.