SHEIKHUPURA, Oct 5: The government is making all-out efforts to provide basic facilities, including electricity, gas, drinking water and canal water for irrigation purposes without discrimination against any area or a group of people.

This was stated by Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi at a public meeting after inaugurating the 132KV grid station built at a cost of Rs90 million at Bhekhi, some 16km from here, on Sunday.

The chief minister announced that a women’s college would be set up in Bhekhi. The proposal to develop a sewerage and drainage system in the town was also under consideration, he said.

Inaugurating the Government Girls High School in Hanjranwa, the chief minister said top priority was being given to education as it was a basic need for the development of any nation.

At the local DHQ Hospital, he inaugurated the children care ward and announced a Rs20 million grant for its improvement. He also opened the national gymnasium building constructed at a cost of Rs10 million at the Sheikhupura Stadium.

Later, Pervaiz Elahi met the delegations of PML officer-bearers, lawyers, MPAs and MNAs at the local rest house. He also announced a grant of Rs1 million for the local press club.

The chief minister also visited the residence of PML-Q city president Zafar Chaudhry to condole the death of his elder brother.

In the afternoon, he went to Kamoki to attend the marriage of MNA Chaudhry Nazir’s son.

Speaking at a public meeting at the Company Bagh in the evening, the chief minister announced a Rs600 million development package for the city.

He said all demands presented by district Nazim Tawakalullah Virk would be accepted soon.

The CM announced the provision of gas facility to all such areas where the pipeline passed. He said work on the Sheikhupura-Faisalabad Road would start next month and Rs400 million would be spent on the project. He said the Lahore-Sheikhupura Road would also be carpeted.

Mr Elahi said Hamid Nizami vocational institute would be set up in Sangla Hill and Astroturf laid in the Sheikhupura Stadium.

KILLED: One passenger was killed while eight others sustained burn wounds when a bus they were travelling in slammed into an electric pole near Jandiala Sher Khan on Sunday.

Residents of Jhabran Mandi and adjoining areas were coming to the city by the bus to participate in a meeting of the Punjab chief minister. Near the Jandiala Sher Khan RHC, the fast travelling bus hit the 11KV electric pole. The impact was so severe that a live electric wire fell on the bus after disjoining from the pole. Consequently, Waqas (18) died instantly while eight others suffered serious burn wounds. They were shifted to the local hospital.