BAHAWALPUR, Feb 26 Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has announced construction of Bahawalpur-Faisalabad motorway and establishment of an engineering university in the district.

Speaking to PPP workers at the Circuit House on Friday, he also announced Rs30 million and Rs10 million for the development of Tibba Badar Shair slum and Musa Colony's electrification, respectively.

He also pledged provision of basic amenities at Mauza Dera Izzat and construction of a road leading to Chak 35/BC here.

The prime minister honoured a worker, Ali Akbar Javed, by promising to send him for Umra. He assured the workers that an employment committee would help them out in provision of jobs.

He said the government would restore the 1973 Constitution after repealing the amendments incorporated by the dictator. He said the government stood for the rule of law, independent judiciary and press freedom.

He lauded the role of workers who, he said, had helped the party come out of every crisis. Earlier, Mr Gilani visited ex-minister Syed Tasneem Nawaz Gardezi and condoled his sister's death.

WELFARE PROJECTS
The Divisional Development Working Party at its meeting here on Friday approved five projects estimated to cost about Rs220 million for Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan.

The projects include a women's degree college in Rahim Yar Khan and an overhead railway bridge near Tarinda Sawai Khan on Khanpur-Rahim Yar Khan Road for which the government would acquire five acres. The meeting, presided over by Commissioner Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmad, also approved two water-supply schemes costing over Rs30 million for Donga Bonga and Haroonabad tehsil.

ENCROACHMENTS
District Coordination Officer Dr Naeem Ashraf has directed his subordinates to launch an anti-encroachment operation in the district.

After assuming the charge of administrator of the district council, he said a sanitation plan also would be made at the union council level.

IUB
The Islamia University Bahawalpur will remain closed for another week till March 7.

An announcement said its sub-campuses in Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan will continue functioning. The university was initially closed up to Feb 26 after a violence of students, but now the date has been extended.