CHINIOT, Jan 30: Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool said on Thursday that during visits to various parts of the province, he had noticed a positive change in that the people everywhere were demanding educational institutes for girls.

He was speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Government Primary School in UC-37 here on Thursday. The school is being constructed by philanthropists of the Sheikh community.

He said that because of the limited resources available, NGOs and philanthropists should help the government provide basic amenities to the masses.

He promised to pursue Chiniotis’ demands regarding provision of land for a computer institute, upgradation of schools to higher levels and provision of doctors at the THQ hospital.

He said that some so-called intellectuals were predicting a bleak future for the country and spreading desperation in the nation, but philanthropists and investors provided a beacon of hope by investing in human development.

Appreciating Chiniot’s philanthropic efforts of the Sheikh Braderi, he said the Punjab government would fully cooperate with Sheikhs’ projects.

Earlier, Chiniot Education Scholarship Society president Mian Saleem Omer said they had helped repair and renovate 10 schools and provided thousands of poor students with fees, books and eatables. Many local philanthropists were ready to build schools, parks, hospitals and computer colleges, but needed infrastructure for the purpose, he added.

As much as Rs10 million was being spent for constructing the building for Government Degree College for Women, which had been functioning in a rented building for the last 20 years, he said and added, the government should name it after the sponsor.

He also demanded post-graduate classes in Government Islamia Degree College, which had started degree classes some 35 years ago. He said the Union council office should be shifted to some appropriate place and a quality training institute be established to produce workers for the local furniture industry, which had great export potential.

Former MNA Qaisar Sheikh said development funds were being distributed only among political favourites.

District Nazim Hamid Sultan in his speech emphasized the need for more factories to end unemployment in the district.

Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice-president Mian Arshad Alam also spoke on the occasion.

In two other ceremonies, the governor inaugurated Din Degree College for Women, which is being constructed by a local philanthropist and would cost 20 million rupees, and the Rs5 million science block at the Government Islamia College.