OKARA, Dec 7: The country is witnessing an era of inspirational leadership and regained direction in the form of devolution of power.

This was stated by Punjab governor Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool (retired) while addressing people at the district council lawn here on Friday.

The governor said president Pervez Musharraf’s policies on present war in Afghanistan have brought respect to the country despite resistance by some people.

He maintained the government was working in the right direction to bring back in the country economic stability and relief to common man.

The governor sanctioned a grant of Rs300 million for the development projects in the district and assured people that a sum of Rs150 million would shortly be released for welfare projects.

He said uplift of education figured high on the government agenda. The significant changes brought in the system would raise the standards.

He announced that specialists would be posted in various health units in the district to ensure proper treatment for the ailing people.

On agriculture, he said it was the backbone for country’s stability and efforts would be directed to boom the sector.

Mr Maqbool said police department had rid itself of all political pressures and as such it should provide maximum security to the people.

Nazims Mian Anwar Pasha, Dr Qasim Ali Wattoo, Mian Asghar Ali and former MNA Rao Qaisar Ali Khan informed him about the problems in the district.

Earlier, the governor inaugurated the Government Degree College No 2 for Women. It was constructed in Siddique Nagar on the GT Road with an expenditure of Rs20 million.

He directed the officials to develop an electronic library in the institution to provide education to women on modern lines.

He also paid a surprise visit to the Baba Farid Sugar Mills on the Okara-Faisalabad Road and examined weighing scales. Cane growers apprised him of theft of cane lying on the tractor-trolleys.

During his visit to the Saddar police station, he examined the Computer Cell and inquired about the registration of FIR cases. He also sought report on a case of car theft. He was informed about cases off file and procedure of challans which had already been sent to the court.

In the judicial lock-up, he had a chat with two culprits involved in a murder case.

The governor also visited Bahadurnagar livestock farm and discerned the standard of feed prepared in the mills.

Stressing a need for research, he directed the authorities concerned to initiate work for the procurement of better variety of feed for the cattle.

Punjab livestock secretary Raees Abbas Zaidi briefed the governor about the farm and highlighted the achievements in different fields.