BAHAWALPUR, April 28 The three-day celebrations to mark the 125th anniversary of the Government Sadiq Egerton College began here on Wednesday.

Presiding over the inaugural ceremony, Punjab Minister for Special Education Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar, an old student of the institute (Al-Sadiqoon), said the government would improve the facilities available to the teachers and the taught here.

He announced grant of land for the college extension and a library building.

Chief guests Haji Saifullah, a former minister who had been a student of the institute, and former education director Syed Rehmatullah Shah also spoke on the occasion. Mr Shah demanded that the adjacent land of the borstal be transferred to the college for its campus.

Rana Muhammad Siddique, the college principal, in his welcome address traced the history of the institute.

The first day's programme was rounded off with an Urdu debate. On the second day (Thursday), a Seerat conference and mushaira will be held. The college convocation and a symposium on saint Khwaja Ghulam Fareed (RA) will be held on Friday.

SEPARATE PROVINCE MPA Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood, who heads the PML (Functional), demanded on Wednesday that new provinces should be created for strengthening the country.

Speaking to members of the High Court Bar Association here on Wednesday, he stressed the need for restoring Bahawalpur's provincial status. Saying that Punjab might be divided into parts on an administrative basis, he urged the lawyers to play their due role in restoration of Bahawalpur province.