MIANWALI, Sept 27: Punjab Governor Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool (retired) has announced that the city will get supplied with gas in a year’s time.

Speaking to a big crowd at the hockey stadium here, the governor said he had inaugurated the Sui Gas project in the city.

The governor also promised to release Rs20 million for water supply and sanitation schemes in the city and Rs14 million for a railway under-pass and Paikhel irrigation scheme.

He also issued orders for launching a girls’ education project and restarting MA classes in the Government College for Women.

He specially lauded the services of Mianwali police, who had captured some terrorists involved in bombing churches in Murree and Taxila.

The governor distributed appointment letters among 590 female teachers, constables and Patwaris. He also distributed certificates and cash prizes among teachers. Government High School Rikhi senior headmaster Sheikh Mohammad Ramzan was awarded the first prize for appointing teachers strictly on merit.

The governor also listened to the problems of the people. He was told that no Zakat cheques had been given to the deserving people whereas the government had allocated Rs2.84 billion for 120,000 Mustahiqeen.

The governor was presented the head-dress of Lungi-Kullah in a tradition of respect for guests.

Earlier, district Nazim Humair Hayat Khan Rokhri apprised the governor of the popular local demands.

The DIG, the general manager of Sui Northern Gas, the DCO, the administrator of Afghan refugees camp, all heads of the district departments, Mianwali Tehsil Nazim Khurshid Khan, Piplan Tehsil Nazim Faqir Majeed, public representatives and people from all walks of life were present at the public meeting. Two PML-QA candidates were also there, Malik Feroz Joya (NA-72) and Amanatullah Khan Shadikhel (PP-43).

Some political parties, including Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf, have decided to hold demonstrations to protest against the governor’s visits to various parts of the province in election season. However, the activists were not allowed entry into the stadium.