MULTAN - The divisional administration will spend Rs204.2 million on horticulture projects as Commissioner Multan division Bilal Ahmad Butt issued on Wednesday directives to all Deputy Commissioners to allocate one percent of total funds for development horticulture projects.

Chairing a meeting held to review progress in development schemes, the Commissioner declared that one percent fund would be utilised for establishing new parks in the division besides beautifying the existing ones. He asked the officials concerned to ensure accomplishment of all projects before deadline. He warned that no compromise would be made on the quality of work.

He directed officials to ensure completion of Saaf Dehat Programme before February 28. He also issued order for demolition of dangerous residential and school buildings. He directed Assistant Commissioners to submit their report on dangerous buildings so that decision could be made on their fate.

Mayor Naveedul Haq Arrain asked all Union Council Chairmen to get their schemes approved from the house and submit them to the District Steering Committee so that these schemes could be accomplished on time. He said that the Saaf Dehat Programme was a unique project which would offer clean environment to the residents of rural areas.

Briefing the meeting, Director Development Tanver Iqbal said that work on 988 schemes worth Rs3,6247 million was underway across the division. He added that 631 new schemes were included in 988 schemes and work on many old schemes had been finished. He disclosed that 61 percent work of Khadim-e-Punjab School Programme had been accomplished as 891 classrooms in 480 schools had so far been constructed. He further disclosed that the fifth phase of Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Road Programme had also been completed.

Director Local Government Jam Baqa told on this occasion that 825 dangerous buildings had so far been demolished while 724 other repaired so far. He added that the first phase of sanitation under Saaf Dehat Programme had been accomplished and one time cleaning certificates had been issued.

IRANIAN DIESEL SMUGGLING FOILED

A team Customs Multan has foiled a bid to smuggle Iranian diesel worth millions as it took into custody over one million litre high speed diesel worth Rs90 million loaded on 18 trailers.

Addressing a news conference, Customs officials Ambreen Tarrar and Dr. Muhammad Zohaib disclosed that the diesel was smuggled from Iran and 18 truck drivers were arrested who had been produced before Special Judge Customs. The arrested drivers have been remanded into Customs custody for four days by the court. They told media that the customs duty on the caught diesel amounted to Rs. 65 million.