Punjab to distribute over 80,000 acres among farmers free of cost
Pakistan Times National News Desk

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Ch. Pervaiz Elahi has said government is distributing 80,000 acres of land worth Rs. 16 billion among landless and poor cultivators free of cost at the rate of 12.5 acres per family.

He said 17,000 acres of land worth Rs. 3.37 billion is being given away in district Rahim Yar Khan for the benefit of more than one thousand families. He was addressing a function to award proprietary rights to landless cultivators in Rahim Yar Khan on Thursday.

Minister of State for Local Government Ch. Zafar Iqbal Warraich, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Makhdoom Khusroo Bakhtiar, Sardar Rafique Haider Leghari, former member provincial Assembly, Asghar Korija and others also spoke on this occasion.

The Chief Minister said land laser levelers would be provided at district council level from 31st August in the province which would result in better management of water resources and increase in agri production. He said a huge sum of Rs. 7 billion was being spent on the improvement of sewerage and sanitation system in 21 tehsils of Southern Punjab including four of Rahim Yar Khan district.

He said that government was making strenuous efforts for elimination of unemployment and providing maximum facilities to the citizens. He said that revolutionary measures were being taken for the uplift of agri sector and socio-economic progress of farming community.

He said 20% rebate in power tariff on tubewells was being provided to the farmers while the provincial government had also paid an amount of Rs.40 crore to WAPDA for the provision of electricity meters to growers on subsidized rates. He said flood effected areas of the province had been exempted from agri tax, Abiana and Malia while the Agricultural Bank had also deferred recovery of its laons in such areas.

He said the government considers provision of shelter to the shelterless and basic amenities to the poor as its responsibility. The Chief Minister announced proprietary rights to the dwellers of Katchi Abadis set up before 1985 in district Rahim Yar Khan and Khanpur.

Minister of State for Local Government, Ch. Zafar Iqbal Warraich said that the Punjab was making rapid progress under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab, Ch. Pervaiz Elahi and international organizations have also acknowledged this fact.

He said pace of development had accelerated in the country due to effectiv e economic policies of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khusroo Bakhtiar said that due to sagacious foreign policy of President General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan has achieved a dignified place in the comity of nations.

Sardar Rafique Leghari said the reforms programme introduced by the provincial government has given an impetus to the process of socio-economic uplift of the masses.●