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Billions of Rupees for uplift of Southern
Punjab: CM F.P. Report LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that development funds worth billions of rupees have been allocated in the new budget for the uplift of Southern Punjab, which will eliminate backwardness from this region. During a briefing by the heads of various departments at Circuit House Bahawalpur today, the Chief Minister announced a special development package of five billion rupees which will be in addition to the new and ongoing development projects. Revolutionary changes will be brought about in education, health, hygienic condition and infrastructure after completion of development projects being initiated in Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur and Multan divisions during current financial year. The Chief Minister also announced setting up of Bahawalpur Development Authority for monitoring and timely completion of development schemes. During the briefing given by Chairman P&D, Secretaries Health, Education, Irrigation, Agriculture and Divisional Commissioner, projects initiated for solution of peoples’ problems were considered in detail. Provincial Ministers, Malik Iqbal Chunhar, Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh, Assembly Members and Chairman Task Force Samiullah Chaudhry were also present on the occasion. The Chief Minister was informed that special attention is being paid to the storage and packing of mangoes and vegetables of southern Punjab for their export to other countries. In response to the complaints of shortage of canal water by elected representatives, Secretary Irrigation informed that there is a shortfall of 32% water in the rivers and with the improvement of its supply, provision of water at the tails will be ensured. Secretary Irrigation further said that with the completion of hydle power project after reconstruction of Head Taunsa, the problems of local people will substantially reduce. It may be mentioned that provincial secretaries were present in the field since the last number of days for the monitoring of on going projects and removal of any problem in this regard which is unprecedented. Due to this strategy of the Chief Minister not only development projects are being completed even before stipulated period but corruption has also been checked. The Chief Minister during his stay in Bawalpur laid the foundation stone of a 300-bed civil hospital, drug and food testing laboratory, veterinary college and a hospital, working women hall, crafts bazaar and northern and southern bye-pass. Later, the Chief Minister met a delegation of Chamber of Commerce and Industries in Circuit House and also talked to the media.
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