MULTAN, Jan 30: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed the police to discharge all cases within 48 hours lodged against political workers by the previous government.

Speaking at an official meeting at the Circuit House here on Friday, the chief minister alleged that the Musharraf government had failed miserably in resolving problems of the masses.

He said even the equipment purchased at a cost of Rs80 million for the drug testing laboratory in Multan in 1998 could not be utilized for 10 years.

The chief minister announced 15 dialysis machines for the Nishtar Hospital, construction of a flyover from Kalma Chowk to Kumharanwala, increase in the number of

‘sasta tandoor’ from 125 to

500 in Multan, besides 100 per cent increase in number for Lodhran, Vehari and Khanewal, Rs500 million for the construction of roads in Multan, and Rs300 million each for Vehari, Lodhran and Khanewal.

Shahbaz also directed to get vacated 34 kanal land of Wilayat Hussain College from illegal occupants within 72 hours and fill the vacant posts in the Multan Development Authority and Wasa.

He said the federal government committed to starting installation of filtration plants in the province from March for the provision of clean drinking water.

He directed the Chief Minister Inspection Team to probe the matter regarding the use of substandard material in filtration plants.

The chief minister also ordered redesigning of the Southern Bypass up to Chowk Nag Shah instead of Bahawalpur bypass. For this purpose, he said, funds would be released within a week.

Shahbaz further directed to get prepared a feasibility report from a reputed consultant firm for an elevated expressway from Chungi No 9 to University Campus to solve the traffic jam problem on Bosan Road.

He said Rs1.5 billion had been provided to the provincial highway department for the completion of a road from Makhdoom Rashid to Tiba Sultanpur and Pero Waal to Kucha Khoh by June this year.

The chief minister also approved the upgradation of Inter College, Old Shujabad Road, to a degree college.

An agreement to generate electricity from the solid waste in Multan would be signed with a Chinese firm, he said.