OKARA, Aug 3: Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal has said that Rs282.5 million are being spent on uplift schemes, including provision of gas, in the city.

Addressing a public meeting here on Saturday, he said for the Rs80 million gas project, the federal government had already released Rs40 million.

The minister said that United Arab Emirates had provided Rs80 million for the Kalsoom hospital project which would be taken in hand in near future.

Rao Sikandar said that work on 13 kilometres long Okara by-pass would commence next week, whereas six-kilometre track linking Faisalabd Road to district courts was being laid.

He told the audience that Rs100 million would also be spent on improving the sewerage system and provision of potable water.