SAHIWAL, Feb 18: Parliamentarians belonging to the PML-N, the PPP and the PML-Q (forward bloc) from Sahiwal division held a marathon meeting with five provincial secretaries at Circuit House to finalise different development projects to be announced by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif during his forthcoming visit to the city, expected later this week.

Provincial secretaries of agriculture, health, communication and works, public health and education departments, commissioner, DCOs and other officials concerned attended the eight-hour meeting.

Sources privy to the meeting said the participants discussed in detail the proposed developmental projects, including the establishment of a medical college, Qutab Shahana, construction of Syed Wala bridge at Ravi, widening of Sahiwal-Arifwala and Sahiwal-Pakpattan roads, doubling of GT Road passing through Okara city, construction of Head Sulimanki-Depalpur Road and Arifwala bypass, improvement of existing health facilities in the district and tehsil headquarters hospitals, and development of rural healthcare centres at Mandi Ahmadabad and Chak 185/9L.

During the meeting, Agriculture Secretary Jawed Iqbal Awan ordered improvements in agri-labs in three districts – Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara -- and development of a potato research institute in Sahiwal.

Communication and Works Secretary Fawad Hasan said construction and repair of inter-district roads would be included in the package to be announced by the chief minister.

On this occasion, Commissioner Tariq Mahmood Khan said owing to funds constraints, only the public welfare schemes would be proposed for the division.

Hafeez Akhtar, a PPP MPA demanded the district be declared an ‘Agri-Industrial Estate’. He said an underpass at Harrappa railway station and development of a double link road to the historical site would also be considered under the proposed development package.

Body found: The body of a middle-aged man was found hanging on Wednesday in the cattle pen at an outhouse owned by the employer of the deceased.

Reports said Nawaz, 50, worked for Muhammad Abbas who ran a general store at 121/9-L village. On Monday, Abbas accused Nawaz of stealing some items from his store, an allegation which the latter denied vehemently. Some locals also heard them exchanging hot words.

On Wednesday morning, Nawaz’s body was found hanging in the cattle pen at the outhouse owned by Abbas. Abbas had been missing since the incident. Nawaz’s relatives allege he had been killed by Abbas. Meanwhile the family of Abbas claims that Nawaz committed suicide.

SI Masood Javed, Kameer police investigation officer, told Dawn that the actual cause of death could only be ascertained through autopsy report. The police have register a case (37/09) and are conducting raids to arrest Abbas.