BAHAWALPUR, June 12: Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has announced an uplift package of about Rs350 million for the district.

The plan includes various district roads, proprietary rights for the Cholistan people tilling the land since 1984 and 1,500 cusec additional canal water for cotton sowing in Yazman tehsil.

He was addressing a public meeting, held here on late Friday night at Head Rajkan, in connection with the election campaign of two PML-Q candidates Dr Muhammad Afzal and Chaudhry Shoaib Karim.

Out of the total allocation, Rs120 million were earmarked for widening the Hasilpur-Choonawal Road.

The chief minister claimed that a barrage at a cost of Rs500 million would be constructed by next year at the Mailsi-Siphon Link to provide additional canal water to the district. He announced Rs40 million for re-modelling the Shahiwala Canal in Yazman tehsil.

Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said the 245 people of Cholistan, who had been allotted lands in 1984, would be granted proprietary rights.

He said the land would also be allotted to about 100 government officials of Yazman, belonging to Cholistan. He claimed that 18,000 allottees would benefit after the withdrawal of condition of 25 per cent cultivated area and get permanent deeds of their lands.

Mr Elahi announced upgradation of the Yazman Intermediate Girls College to the degree level. He also announced an intermediate girls college for Head Rajkan.

ELECTION SYMBOLS: Election symbols to the contestants of three Punjab Assembly seats were allotted here on Saturday by the respective returning officers.