LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Friday granted approval to development projects worth billion of rupees for various districts of southern Punjab and other cities of the province. He was presiding over a meeting of divisional commissioners at chief minister’s secretariat.
These projects are aimed at ensuring early availability of education, health, infrastructure, sewerage and other facilities to the masses. CM Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, Member National Assembly Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, chief secretary, Planning & Development chairman, secretaries of Finance, Health, Communication & Works, Higher Education departments and senior officers were present on the occasion.
CM said all-out resources were being utilized for rapid progress of the province and special attention was being paid for provision of basic amenities to the masses. He said funds were being provided to education and health sectors on priority basis.
He said special attention was being paid to uplift the backward areas and funds have been allocated under special package for the completion of high profile projects. He said funds allocated for education sector did not fall under expenditures but investments, for the development and betterment of future generation. He said transparency, high standard of construction work and speedy completion of development projects was the government’s policy which was being strictly implemented.
Granting approval to development projects to the tune of billions of rupees, CM directed that committees comprising of elected representatives should be constituted in all districts to monitor the pace of project implementation on monthly basis, whereas he will monitor these projects every two months. He said drains should be an essential feature of all sewerage projects.
He said tree plantation and the culture of beautification should also be promoted. He said that education and health projects should be completed on priority basis and the first three Daanish schools will be inaugurated in southern Punjab in January, while in the second phase, foundation stone of Daanish school in Dera Ghazi Khan will be laid on January 3rd. He said Daanish schools in Rajanpur and Jand in Attock district will be opened soon.
He directed divisional commissioners to supervise the development schemes for ensuring their timely and transparent completion. He appreciated the performance of divisional commissioners and other concerned authorities in maintaining law and order and religious harmony during Muharram. Earlier, divisional commissioners presented high profile projects in education, health, infrastructure, water supply and drainage sectors in their respective areas which were granted approval by the meeting.
These projects included by-passes, construction and widening of roads, up-gradation of rural and basic health centers and DHQs hospitals, water supply and sewerage schemes, and setting up of new colleges and vocational institutes.
