LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that carpeted roads, thousands of kilometers long, have been constructed under the Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme in rural areas of the province. This beneficial programme has proved to be a ‘game-changer’ for the promotion of rural economy, he said.
This is the largest programme of construction and rehabilitation of rural roads in the history of the country as the rural population has received better transport facilities after the construction of carpeted roads in their areas, which has left a positive impact on the rural economy. Farmers are able to take their agricultural products to the marketplaces and it is heartening that this revolutionary programme has benefited the major portion of the rural population, he added.
Shehbaz Sharif said this while talking to a delegation of Pakistan Muslim League-N. He said that Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme is a unique and innovative initiative which has transformed the lifestyle of the rural population. Construction of quality roads has tremendously benefited the farming community and other people living in rural areas. He said that so far more than Rs 67 billion has been spent on the programme and around 7,000 km long carpeted roads have been constructed in rural areas of the province.
In the financial year 2017-18, Rs 17 billion will be spent on the construction of rural roads in different parts of the province. He said that speedy, qualitative and transparent completion of development projects is the policy of the Punjab government and this policy has been applied to ensure high-quality construction of rural roads.
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN SOUTHERN PUNJAB:
The CM has also emphasised development projects in southern Punjab. He said that projects worth billions of rupees have been completed in southern Punjab and sufficient resources have been allocated for the progress and prosperity of districts in the region in the financial year 2017-18. The development and improvement in quality of life of the people living in southern Punjab is my mission and like previous years, more development funds have been earmarked for southern Punjab as compared to the population ratio, he added.
He said that Punjab government is initiating the programme of clean drinking water from southern Punjab; it will be launched from 37 tehsils of the region. The programme would be completed in South Punjab at the beginning of 2018. Meanwhile, 15 mobile health units are being arranged to provide best health facilities to the people of southern Punjab at their doorsteps. Similarly, the network of Daanish schools is also expanding in the southern Punjab, he added.
He expressed these views while talking to Rajanpur MNA Jaffar Khan Leghari on Thursday. The CM said that Safe City Project is being started in Multan and Bahawalpur and work on many important projects relating to development of infrastructure and other sectors is in progress round the clock for the welfare of the people of southern Punjab. PML-N government will provide further joys and happiness to the people of southern Punjab.
He further said that political elements opposing the public welfare initiatives are opposing the development and prosperity of the common man and the conscious people have fully recognised such agendas; these elements remained unsuccessful in the past and their negative politics will not succeed in future as well. He said that PML-N government has emphasised development, despite all obstacles, because public welfare is the pivot of the government.
On the occasion, Jaffar Khan Leghari said that Punjab CM has adopted wonderful steps for the development and prosperity of southern Punjab which are a testament to his love for the people of this region.
