OKARA, Oct 19: Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool inaugurated on Tuesday the supply of gas to Renala Khurd and Okara Cantonment.

Speaking to a large public gathering at Muslim Town at Renala Khurd, he announced that several South Punjab districts, including Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and Pakpattan, would be supplied with the facility in the next phase of the project.

Besides, he said 600,000 telephone connections would be given in the province, out of which the Okara district would have 5,000.

The government, he said, had raised the wheat price to Rs400 per 40 kilograms within four years from Rs200. The price of cotton also had been raised up to Rs925 per maund, he added.

He said various duties on tractors had been withdrawn for the benefit of the agriculturists, also announcing resumption of 32 water schemes of Renala Khurd lying dormant due to lack of funds. He announced that the local rural health centre would be upgraded to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.

District Nazim Syed Sajjad Haider revealed that the Punjab government had granted Rs90 million for the development of the irrigation system at 1/L and 1-A/L and save 60,000 acres of agricultural land in Renala Khurd. The projects would be completed in the current canal-closure period, he added.

Sui gas general-manager Mujahid Anwar gave out the details of the gas provision project the first phase of which would be completed at a cost of Rs26 million. The remaining population would have the facility in the next phase.

Earlier, the governor inaugurated the new chocolate plant at the Mitchels Fruit Farms. He also distributed 100 Ramazan gift packs to the deserving at the Government Degree College lawn.