GUJRANWALA, July 28: Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool has announced a special uplift package for the people of Naushera Virkan tehsil. The package included gas supply, construction of roads and sewerage, besides establishment of a Nadra office.

Speaking at an open court here on Wednesday at Naushera Virkan, he directed the PTCL, ZTBL and the Wapda officials to provide better facilities to the people in remote areas following expanding their development schemes.

He also directed the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited to provide soft-term loan to farmers through one-window operation. He announced provision of tractors to the owners of five acres of agricultural land, besides reducing the mark-up rate in micro-credit scheme.

Giving briefing to the governor, ZTBL regional manager Mr Sarfraz said a target of Rs272.48 million had been fixed while loan were provided to the tune of Rs169.185 million so far.

He said out of Rs273.879 million recovery target, a sum of Rs172.001 million had been recovered and Rs103.202 million would be recovered by Dec 2004. The governor announced a grant of Rs200 million for dairy farming in Naushera Virkan, upgradation of post office and affiliation of girls degree college with the Punjab University.

A number of people lodged complaints with the governor against Nadra officials. Khalid Maqbool claimed that the government, led by Gen Pervez Musharraf and Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi was serving the people sincerely while all available resources were being utilized for the progress and prosperity of the country.

Provincial minister for transport Chaudhary Shamshad Ahmad Khan, MNA Chaudhry Bilal Ijaz and other parliamentarians, besides district Nazim Fiaz Ahmad Chattha, the district administration and police officials were also present on the occasion.

HOUSE ROBBED: The house of Wazirabad Jamaat-i-Islami amir Asif Cheema was robbed by four robbers on Wednesday. The robbers sneaked into the house by scaling boundary wall.

They locked his family in a room, collected Rs52,000 in cash and 16 tolas of gold jewellery worth Rs100,000 and other valuables and escaped. While gunmen deprived Imran of Rs1,200 in cash, a wrist watch and his motorcycle when he was on his way home from the Satellite Town market.