FAISALABAD, Jan 12: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said on Sunday that Rs1.75 billion would be spent on cementing watercourses to save wastage of canal water.

Speaking at a public meeting at Dijkot, 25kms from here, the chief minister said the government was aware of the problems of growers especially small farmers and efforts would be made for their resolution.

He claimed the government had already started implementing a plan to provide relief to farmers. Markup on agriculture loans had been reduced and more incentives would be provided to farmers especially in the purchase of fertilizers, certified seeds and other inputs.

He said the government was planning to slash agricultural tax for five acre landholders, and a formal decision in this regard would be announced soon.

The chief minister announced that almost all uplift schemes would be completed within two years. Special attention was being paid on the construction of farm-to-market roads and provision of canal water to farmers, he said.

He said all cabinet members had been asked to prepare welfare-oriented policies of their respective departments on monthly basis. Problems of small farmers and big landholders would be resolved according to their discretions, and no taxation official would be allowed to harass them at any cost, he said.

The chief minister said 400 police posts would be set up at a distance of 20kms each to check the incidents of dacoity and highway robbery in the province. The officer in charge of the police post would be held responsible in case of any heinous crime, and corrupt and lethargic policemen would be dealt with an iron hand, he warned. The police force would be reorganized on scientific lines, he said.

He said an industrial estate would be set up along the motorway from Pindi Bhattian to Faisalabad, jobs to youths would be provided under a special programme and the private sector would be taken into confidence. — Staff Correspondent