Announces hefty development package for provision of clean drinking water, construction of roads and development of livestock sector in Cholistan, laments irresponsible reporting by media regarding drought and deaths in the area
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has announced development package of Rs 2.37 billion for provision of clean drinking water, construction of roads and development of livestock sector in Cholistan.
Addressing various gatherings Friday, the chief minister also announced new scheme for allotment of land to landless cultivators of the area. He said that situation was normal in Cholistan and neither any death had occurred nor the area was facing drought. He said that migration during wheat harvesting season was a routine activity in Cholistan.
Provincial ministers Iqbal Channar, Tanvir Aslam, Chief Secretary Naveed Akram, public representatives, Saood Majeed, Khalid Jujja and secretaries of concerned departments accompanied the chief minister.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that he sent various teams from Lahore to review the situation in Cholistan and they not only visited the entire area but also provided immediate help to the needy. He said that negligence on the part of some departments has been detected of which immediate notice has been taken. He said that under the development package announced for Cholistan, de-silting of 1,100 water ponds will be undertaken at a cost of Rs 600 million. He said that an 80-kilometer long road will be constructed from Kudewala with a sum of Rs 240 million.
Similarly, Rs 300 million will be spent on the construction of road from Tailwala to Mithray. The Chief Minister also announced Rs 180 million for the extension project of 30-km long pipeline from Rasool Sar to Bajnot via Marri, Rs 150 million for 25-km long pipeline from Derawar to Kundiwala Toba, Rs 180 million for 30-km long water pipeline from Dhori to Bhanuwala and Rs 8 million for pipeline from Mauj Garh to Chapanwala. He also announced funds of Rs 70 million for reconstruction of the existing 230-km long roads in Cholistan, Rs.20.5 million for veterinary medicines and free of cost vaccination of livestock of Cholistanis for three months and supply of 250 cusec canal water for irrigation in Cholistan.
The chief minister also announced that a new and highly transparent allotment scheme will be started for allotment of land to landless cultivators in Cholistan. Shahbaz Sharif directed concerned provincial secretaries to visit the area twice a week while chief secretary will pay visit to Cholsitan after every ten days.
When the chief minister enquired from the people about the factual position in Cholistan, they informed that no death has occurred due to unfavourable conditions, however there is a need for supply of more water to the area.
The chief minister lamented irresponsible reporting by some circles of media about Cholistan and said that media provides guidance to him and he takes serious notice of its reports but some quarters twisted the facts and presented old and irrelevant pictures and thereby violated the journalistic code of conduct. He said that after reviewing the situation, it has been revealed that there is neither any emergency in Cholistan nor the area is facing drought.
Moreover, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has lamented irresponsible reporting by some circles of media about Cholistan during his visit and said that some quarters of electronic media twisted the facts which hit the media’s credibility.
The chief minister regretted that irrelevant photographs and old videos of the skeleton of animals have been aired in some news bulletins and contrary to the journalistic principles, the file name was also not written on it.
Shahbaz said that he was thankful to media which highlighted the real problems of Cholistan. He said that we should avoid to create a situation like “Sher Aya—Sher Aya”.
CM TAKES NOTICE OF WOMAN’S SELF-IMMOLATION:
Separately, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice of a woman setting herself on fire outside the CM House on Friday reportedly over a family dispute.
The woman was taken to JinnahHospital in Lahore for medical treatment and Shahbaz ordered that the best medical assistance should be provided to her. According to doctors, 30 to 40 percent of her body had burnt.
The woman was a resident of Shafiqabad and has four children including three daughters and a son. It was reported that the husband of the woman was unemployed. The chief minister has also asked for a report on the incident.
Reportedly, the brothers of the victim’s husband used to torture her husband and did not give them their rightful share of family property. Further, the police allegedly did not help them in the matter and instead took sides with the brothers.
