SAHIWAL, Nov 4: Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool has said that the government is taking steps to make mosques and imambargahs sanctuaries of peace and people should play their role to support the regime in this regard.

Addressing heads of various departments and elected representatives here on Thursday, he claimed that the country witnessed record development in all sectors during the last five years of the present regime. He urged the elected representatives to work for eradication of evils from society.

Earlier, the governor inspected the offices of Nadra, Wapda, SNGPL, PTCL and ZTBL.

Mr Maqbool ordered provision of Sui gas to the new-established localities at Noorshah, Kamir, Chichawatni, Chak 89/6-R, Chak 95/6-R and Small Industrial Estate at Sahiwal and assured provision of grant in this connection. The target of 5,000 annual gas connections must be met, he said and directed the officials concerned to end gas loadshedding at Iftar and Sahar timings. The governor ordered establishment of new telephone exchanges at Chak 114/9-L, 112/9-L, Chichawatni and Arifwala.

He ordered expansion in three Wapda grid stations, opening of a new division and a sub-division at Harappa.

The governor approved establishment of Bahauddin Zakaria campus at Sahiwal in case the district government provided land for this purpose.

SUSPENDED: The district education officer during surprise visits here on Thursday ordered suspension of eight teachers and a primary school headmaster for absence from duties.

They were identified as Muhammad Akram, Munir Ahmed Shaheen, Bashir Ahmed, Parveen Kausar, Hafiz Imran Ali, Muhammad Mansha and Headmaster Chan Peer Anjam.

WIDOW GANG-RAPED: A widow was allegedly gang-raped here on Thursday at Chak 129/9-L.

Reports said 'H' was picked up by Safdar. He took her to an outhouse where he along with Irshad and Shah Sawar raped the woman and snatched her ear rings and cash.