LAHORE, Aug 5: The Punjab government has decided to provide Rs200 million for the provision of Sui gas to Murree. It has also asked the authorities concerned to speed up the process of provision of gas to southern Punjab.

This was stated by Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi while presiding over a meeting here on Thursday. Chief Secretary Kamran Rasool, communication and works secretary, and senior officials of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited attended the meeting.

He said the project of providing gas to Murree and its adjoining areas would be launched in the near future and it would help protect natural atmosphere and trees of the hill station.

He said people in Murree were cutting trees to use them as fuel, which was causing deforestation and atmospheric pollution. The provision of gas would help improve the standard of living and boost tourism, he hoped.

The chief minister said Sui gas had been provided to Kasur, Jauharabad, Khushab, Mianwali, Shahpur, Renala Khurd, Kunjah, Mangowal and other backward areas.