The Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over a high-level meeting in which he reviewed the progress of different development projects under the annual development program 2016-17, in detail.
While addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that the PML-N government was following the policy of composite development in the province, adding that the development of remote and far flung areas is included in the government’s priorities. Projects worth billions of rupees are being completed for the prosperity of the people living in the rural areas. Billions of rupees, he added, have been utilised for the construction and rehabilitation of carpeted roads in villages; and this has opened news routes for these areas to be accessible for transportation. Also, ten per cent of the additional quota has been reserved for the welfare-oriented projects for districts of southern Punjab.
He said that an example of transparency has been set by the government as it has managed to save billions of rupees of the exchequer, by keeping the projects free of corruption, adding that this policy would further be pursued.
The timely completion of the projects is our top priority and that no leniency would be extended to those who did not carry out their duties in a diligent manner, the CM said. He made it clear that the public sector departments are responsible for the timely completion of development schemes; and added that they were also accountable before the law.
The chief minister directed the responsible officers of all the respective departments to ensure efficient utilisation of the development funds and timely completion of development projects. He further added that the development funds must be utilised by June 30 so that the development projects could be completed in the prescribed time.
The CM made it clear that he will not tolerate delay in the development schemes in any case. The policy of the third party audit, he added, should be followed in the development projects.
The CM said that health and education are also the government’s priorities and during the next financial year the government would focus all of its attention on these sectors. The main aim of the government would be to provide the best possible facilities in both the education and health departments, to the people.
He told the attendees of the meeting that additional funds would be allocated for health, education, agriculture and other social sectors. He said that special attention should be paid to the development of the less developed areas.
He said that the development of the agriculture sector is imperative for the strengthening of the economy. For this purpose, the CM added, concrete steps would be taken for the development of the agriculture sector as well as to provide welfare to the farmers.
The CM then said that the energy projects were also being completed promptly and he expressed hope for the load shedding to end by 2018. He vowed to continue the journey towards development with the same zeal and dedication in the next financial year as well.
Provincial ministers Rana Sanaullah, Malik Nadeem Kamran, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, MNA Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, Senator Saud Majeed, chief secretary, ACS (home), chairman P&D, secretaries of the concerned departments as well as senior officials attended the meeting.
