FAISALABAD, Feb 28: City District Nazim Rana Zahid Tauseef has said the chief minister will shortly visit Faisalabad to review arrangements for the forthcoming visit of President Gen Pervez Musharraf and finalize development schemes worth over Rs10 billion.

He told newsmen on Tuesday that Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi was interested in providing maximum funds at the union council level under the mega development plan envisioned by the president for the benefit of the people.

He said the projects were being given final touches and the town administrations had been asked to put forward their policies and schemes at the earliest. The construction of road strips, pavements, water-supply and drainage facilities, upgradation of educational institutions and beautification were part of the plan, he added.

He said a lucrative development package would be announced for the district by the provincial government also so that the local council could prepare its budget having a maximum number of development schemes.

According to Mr Tauseef, the district government was going to start teacher training programme for all government schools so that the academics could impart better and modern education to the pupils.

The nazim said the mega water-supply project was in full swing with the financial assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The contractors of ongoing schemes, both in urban and rural areas, of the district had been asked to complete their projects within stipulated period so that the people could get maximum benefits from these schemes, he added.

A comprehensive plan had been chalked out to beautify the busy and posh areas under which the publicity boards would be installed.

The nazim said instructions had been issued for smooth flow of traffic in the city areas. The anti-encroachment drive would continue unabated and none would be allowed to grab the state land at any cost, he warned.