*Punjab govt fixes 8% growth rate target in 2014-15 budget
Target of growth rate of eight percent has been fixed in the province during the next four years, said Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday while presiding over a high level meeting regarding the Annual Development Programme for the fiscal year 2014-15.
Planning and Development chairman gave a detailed briefing regarding the salient features of ADP- 2014-15.
He said that a strategy has been evolved to create ten hundred thousand new job opportunities annually, while planning has been made to make 20 thousand youth skillful during four year’s period.
The CM said that maximum resources will be allocated in the new budget for the development of backward areas. He said that revolutionary measures are being taken for the improvement of tax collection system. He said that national resources are a sacred trust and will be spent only on the betterment of the masses.
He said that metro bus projects will be started in Multan and Faisalabad during financial year 2014-15.
The CM said that the Punjab government will set up coal and solar power projects with its own resources and planning has been made for this purpose. He said that the government is working speedily on the project of setting up a solar power project of 1000 megawatts in Bahawalpur with its own resources while coal power plants will also be established in Rahim Yar Khan and Muzaffargarh. He said that a comprehensive programme has been evolved for energy conservation.
Shahbaz said IT labs will also be set up in middle schools while laptops will be given to talented students of Matric in the new financial year as well. He said that digital libraries will be set up throughout the province. He said that special attention is being paid to the uplift of social sectors and huge amounts will be allocated for education, health and energy sectors. The CM said that more resources will be provided for raising the living standard of the masses and development of backward areas.
He said that priorities are being set in a realistic manner in the ADP of 2014-15 for strengthening economy so that targets of rapid development could be achieved and the benefits of development projects could reach the masses. He said that there is a need to pay attention to value addition for the uplift of livestock, dairy development and other important sectors.
The CM said that strenuous efforts will have to be made to achieve the results of the four years’ growth plan and the departments and institutions associated with social sectors will have to be run in a professional manner for this purpose.
Provincial ministers, special assistants, assembly members, chief secretary, provincial secretaries and officials concerned were present on the occasion.
