Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sunday presided over a high-level meeting which was also attended by Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique.
The meeting reviewed progress of ongoing public-welfare projects.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the Punjab government is working on several projects for the balanced development of urban and rural areas and these projects are being completed while ensuring a high standard and transparency. He said the government has promoted the culture of execution of projects with transparency while equal attention is being paid to the uplift of urban and rural areas.
He said that funds are considered a trust of the nation and are being spent only on provision of basic facilities to the masses. He said that under the policy of balanced development, mega projects are also being implemented speedily in backward areas. He said the masses are fully benefiting from the big projects completed in education, health, infrastructure and social sectors. He said funds worth billions of rupees have been saved by ensuring financial discipline and transparency in development projects which is unprecedented in the national history.
Sharif said that the elements criticising public-welfare projects are not sincere to the masses and the process of public service will continue speedily. He said that the second phase of Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme is being implemented successfully and this project of construction and rehabilitation of rural roads will change the lifestyle of the people of villages. He said that ‘Pakkiyan Sarkaan Saukhay Painday’ project is a milestone in the prosperity of rural economy. He said this project worth Rs 150 billion will bring a positive change in the life of the people of rural areas.
He said that such a big programme of construction and rehabilitation of rural roads is unprecedented in the history of Pakistan. Sharif said that Pakistan Muslim League-N government considers progress and prosperity of the people of rural areas its mission, therefore, a big programme of construction and rehabilitation of rural roads has been launched under which carpeted roads of the highest standard are being constructed. He said that a network of hundreds of kilometers long roads will be laid till 2017-18.
He said that ‘Pakkiyan Sarkaan Saukhay Painday’ programme will result in strengthening of rural economy and will reduce the distance between villages and cities. The chief minister said that the project of supply of potable water has also been started from south Punjab and hundreds of people of people living in villages will benefit from this project.
The meeting also reviewed the matters relating to Bab-e-Pakistan Project and gave approval to devising a new master plan of the project. MPs Ch Muhammad Munir Azhar, Mian Naseer Ahmed, Yasin Sohal, Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal, chairman PTV, secretaries concerned, Commissioner Lahore Division and senior officials attended the meeting.
Japanese ambassador: Japanese Ambassador in Pakistan Hiroshi Inomata Sunday met CM Sharif. Matters of mutual interest, bilateral relations and promotion of cooperation in different sectors were discussed in the meeting.
Talking to the Japanese Ambassador, the chief minister said that there are deep-rooted relations between Pakistan and Japan. However, strengthening of bilateral ties between the two countries is the need of the hour. He said Japan has made tremendous progress due to hard work and it is a role model for the developing countries.
The chief minister said that effective measures are needed for strengthening of economic and trade relations between Pakistan and Japan and there should be maximum exchange of trade delegations between the two countries. He said Pakistan is facing energy shortage, terrorism and other challenges. He said the present government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is making sincere efforts to steer the country out of the quagmire of problems and put it on the road to progress and development. He said Japan is extending commendable cooperation to Punjab government for the improvement of education, health and civic amenities.
He said there are vast opportunities of investment in education, health, energy and other sectors in Punjab. He said that a conducive atmosphere has been created in the province for investment and due to the transparent policies of the government, a large number of foreign investors are showing interest in investment in Punjab. The Japanese ambassador said that Japan wants to strengthen its relations with Pakistan and cooperation with Punjab in different sectors will be promoted.