BAHAWALPUR, June 11: Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has announced Rs100 million for the construction of the Bahawal Victoria Hospital's cardiology and ICU wards. Besides, he has earmarked Rs2 million for the establishment of the local press club.

Speaking at a press conference here on Friday, he accepted the longstanding demand of the construction of an overhead bridge over the level crossing on the Multan Road and completion of the Ahmadpur bypass.

He said water supply and sewerage projects would be undertaken and the local museum upgraded with the financial assistance by foreign donors. He also announced a comprehensive plan for the promotion of tourism here.

Replying to a question, the chief minister said the district would be given representation on the Punjab cabinet. However, he parried a question about the relief measures being proposed in the next year's budget for the common man.

Earlier talking to a delegation of MNAs and MPAs and officials of the Bahawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the circuit house, he said the agricultural marketing system would be streamlined to facilitate farmers in the province.

He said he had studied the market system of the Indian East Punjab, which ensured suitable facilities to the cultivators. He said he intended to restructure the system on this pattern and ensure that the agriculturists got the major share of profits on their products.

The government, he said, would take steps to implement the package for farmers announced by President Gen Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad the other day. The lawmakers demanded that 10,000 to 15,000 cusecs of canal water should be released in the dried-up Sutlej to raise the level of underground water in areas of Bahawalpur, where drinking water was not available.

On a demand of the chamber, the chief minister announced Rs5 million and provision of land on market rates for the construction of the chamber's building. Earlier, the MPs boycotted the chief minister's reception at the airport when the ASF personnel did not allow them to move to the runway.

Even District Nazim Tariq Cheema was not allowed to welcome the chief minister at the runway. DCO Imran Ahmad and DIG Sarfraz Husain received the chief minister, who reportedly upbraided the officials for this incident.