Dera Ghazi Khan, March 12: The government is up in arms against those who have been killing people in the name of religion.

This was stated by Punjab Governor Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool (retired) while addressing the district government representatives at the local circuit house on Tuesday.

Condemning the sectarian clashes at Kot Uddu, the governor asserted the killers would be dealt with iron hand.

He said the government had provided an amount of Rs500 to 600 million to every district and the representatives should exercise authorities to redress the problems of the people.

A master plan would be launched to control the hill torrents in the district, he said, adding a sum of Rs200 million would be spent on fighting the Rodkohi Mithawan in the first phase.

He pledged the Manika Canal would be rehabilitated. He said the construction of zero headworks would be completed in the district by April 30 at a cost of Rs150 million while the Chashma Right Bank Canal would be completed by June 30. Millions of acres would be irrigated, he added.

Granting the autonomy to the Government Degree College, Dera Ghazi Khan, he assured that the institution would be given the status of a university after six months if it continued to show progress.

He announced that a sum of Rs5 million had been allocated for tehsil Qabaili Allaqa and tehsil Taunsa Sharif for purchasing necessary items.

Earlier, the governor visited the Gadai High School and regretted the absence of basic facilities to the institution. He also assessed performance of the two primary schools running on the premises of the Gadai High School.

He, later, laid foundation stone of the Dera Ghazi Khan Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE). He conferred medals on students of matriculation who passed out with distinction.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Maqbool emphasized there was a need to bring positive change in the education system to meet the challenges of the modern day.

Reviewing performance of the Jamia Islamia seminary, he urged the students to keep in touch with scientific subjects besides religious studies and to learn balance of judgment.

During his visit to the local Divisional Headquarters Hospital, he announced that a cardiology unit and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) would be established besides provision of 125 more beds.

He directed the EDO (health) to improve the affairs at the hospital and make the polio campaign a success.