RAWALPINDI, Feb 14: The government is launching a micro- credit scheme to promote earning opportunities for the masses, Punjab Governor Lt-Gen (retired) Khalid Maqbool here on Monday said.

Speaking at an open katchery held at the district nazim's camp office, the governor said he along with Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain would be disbursing Rs100 million among 1,000 people on Wednesday. These loans are being financed by Khushali Bank.

He said a similar loan scheme would be launched in Rawalpindi shortly under which loans would be given to 1,000 people to be identified by the district nazim and union council nazims.

Regarding losses suffered owing to recent rains and snowfall in Rawalpindi district, he said a two member committee, comprising provincial ministers Raja Basharat and Chaudhry Zaheer Ahmed, had been constituted to assess the damages. Compensation would be given according to the committee's report, he added.

Mr Maqbool said he had directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take action against fake recruiting agencies involved in exploitation of unemployed persons by offering them jobs abroad.

He said the government would try to help these poor people get back their money from these phony recruiting agencies. On the issue of development work in the district, he said 64,000 new telephone connections would be provided to the people.

He said 100 per cent telephone coverage was being achieved after the introduction of Wireless Local Loop system. The governor said Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) was setting up two new grid stations in the district at a cost of Rs2 billion, while another Rs300 million would be spent on replacement of poles and cables.

For areas in the district still without power supply, he said, Rs570 million had been allocated to provide them this basic facility. Additionally, Rs100 million and Rs200 million are being given to Kahuta and Murree tehsils for their development projects, he added.