BAHAWALPUR: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has approved the PC-1 of the two development projects worth Rs1.13 billion under the Cholistan Package.

The PC-1 pertains to the desiltation of 1,100 water ponds (Rs465 million) and 31 schemes of the rehabilitation of 31 damaged roads (Rs66 million) in the desert.

The Rs2.37 billion Cholistan Package was announced by the chief minister in March after reports that the region was in the grip of drought-like condition.

Talking to Dawn, Cholistan Development Authority Managing Director Iqbal Hussain said immediate task before the authority was to start cleaning of ponds before the monsoon so that the rainwater could accumulate there for consumption of humans and livestock.

He said the Punjab Planning and Development (P&D) Board had released the initial amount for ponds and roads.

The process of inviting tenders and other matters would be completed at the earliest, Mr Hussain said, adding the feasibility reports were being prepared for extension to three already existing water pipelines in the Cholistan areas and the laying of a new water supply line in Rahim Yar Khan district’s desert parts. Besides, another PC-1 of the construction of a new road in the desert area was in process, he said.

QAMC: The Board of Management (BoM) of the Quaid-i-Azam Medical College (QAMC) and Bahawal Victoria Hospital has sought from the Punjab government powers to recruit staff in grade 18 and above.

The board which met on Saturday with chairman Prof Dr Maj (retired) Muhammad Amin in the chair, unanimously urged the Punjab government to consider their request.

The board’s demand was conveyed to the government through health department’s deputy secretary Hafiz Muhammad Anis, who also attended meeting.

Sources said the medical college and hospital faced shortage of staff in senior positions.

solar power: Minister of State for Education and Interior Baleeghur Rehman says solar electricity will be supplied to 30 government schools in the district.

He was addressing a meeting here in which EDO (Education) Ashfaq Gujjar briefed him on the education development activities in the district. The minister said the missing facilities in the schools should be provided by June 15.

He also directed to complete the ongoing work of the development projects within the specified period. He said the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and passport office would have their own buildings.

The minister was told that Rs360 million were being utilised to provide missing facilities in government schools.

Meanwhile, the employees, including teachers of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), held a demonstration outside the house of education minister for the payment of their salaries of the last 11 months.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2014