CHAKWAL, July 31: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Monday announced a grant of Rs50 million for the development of Chakwal, besides Rs700 million for water supply and sewerage schemes.

“District Chakwal is land of martyrs and ghazis and I have come to my military constituency”, said the president while addressing a public meeting in the football ground of Government Sir Syed College after performing ground breaking of a cadet college at Kattas.

He said the people of the area played a key role in strengthening the national defence by serving in the armed forces.

He said the cadet college would be a gift for the people of Chakwal. In this regard he noted the efforts of Minister for Kashmir Affairs and the District Nazim that yielded the result.

During a briefing the president was informed that the cadet college would be completed at a cost of Rs230 million. Classes will start in next two years.

Accepting the demands presented by District Nazim Sardar Ghulam Abbas in his presentation, the president announced he would issue directives to all respective departments in this respect.

The president also announced a feasibility study to restore Chakwal’s rail link with the rest of the country, keeping in view the construction of three new cement factories and directed the railways minister for an immediate study.

President Musharraf said the government had accorded high priority to the education sector and particularly noted the initiative of the Punjab government in this respect.

“Pakistan can make real progress in industrialisation and development only by seeking higher education,” the president said.

He said under the government’s strategy an additional Rs100 billion would be provided for the improvement of the education system.

The curriculum will be modernised, educational infrastructure, particularly in the rural areas will be improved, besides enhancing the teacher training facilities.

President Musharraf said, it was ironic that despite being a nuclear power, the literacy level was still low but vowed that secondary and vocational training would be imparted to the youth across the country.

The president said it was government’s prime objective to transfer the benefits of economic progress to the people, with a focus on provision of electricity, water and gas.

He said by next year, all 20 remote villages of Chakwal would have electricity, as part of its plan for electrification of every hamlet of 10 houses.

Feasibility studies would also be carried out for provision of gas through pipelines and other means for areas in Chakwal would be studied.

He also assured to look into the possibility of construction of Mandra-Chakwal and Sohawa-Chakwal road that would link the district with the Grand Trunk road, easing flow of goods and people.

He also assured provision of safe drinking water to every village with over 100 households. He said a study into the construction of Kambir dam would also be conducted.

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said unprecedented funds had been allocated for development schemes across the Punjab.

He said during the last three years the government had allocated Rs4 billion for different schemes including five small dams in Chakwal district. He said the new cement factories would provide employment to 135,000 people.

The chief minister said the president would be re-elected in uniform for sustained economic growth and consolidation of the democratic process.