–Inaugurates first-ever power supply project for district’s neglected Barthi town
–Lays foundation stone of uplift projects worth billions of rupees
–Promises to introduce Safe City Project, Dolphin Force in Dera Ghazi Khan
DERA GHAZI KHAN: During his maiden visit to the Dera Ghazi Khan district since after assuming charge of the provincial chief executive, Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has started delivering on his promise of working to uplift the remote areas of Punjab.
The chief minister reached DG Khan – his native area – on Friday and announced launching projects worth billions of rupees.
On Saturday, he inaugurated a power supply project for Bathi town of the district, which would help provide electricity to the area for the first time in the 71 years history of the country.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that other areas of DG Khan will also be provided electricity and announced that five small dams will also be constructed in the area beside land record centres, NADRA centres, a passport office and branches of the Bank of Punjab.
The chief minister also laid the foundation stone of a 60-bed THQ [tehsil headquarter] hospital, Rescue 1122 Centre, 46 km-long road from Fazla Kach and Sar Thook to Theekar, 23 km road from Kharrar Buzdar to Hangloon, the total cost of which is Rs1.073 billion.
“It is time that deprivations of remote areas are ended for good,” he said, adding that the government would provide mobile health units and four ambulances for the tribal areas.
“The quota for tribal students in engineering, medical and other universities is being increased. Four bulldozers are being provided to clear roads in tribal areas. A special water scheme is being started for the provision of clean drinking water. A machine will be provided for boring to install hand pumps in tribal and hilly areas while roads as long as 171 km will also be constructed at the cost of the Rs2.35 billion.”
He informed the people present on the occasion that a request had been forwarded to the federal government seeking the construction of the Taunsa-Musakhel road.
The chief minister also announced increasing the hill allowance for employees from Rs500 to Rs1,000 and shifting schools to solar energy.
He said Prime Minister Imran Khan would also visit the area soon and make a big announcement regarding South Punjab province, adding that he was thankful to the people of his area as he had become the chief minister due to their prayers and now was working 18 hours a day to pay back the masses who trusted him with power.
SAFE CITY, DOLPHIN FORCE:
Separately, CM Buzdar said that Safe City Project and Dolphin Force will be introduced in DG Khan while the setting up of the regional office of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) would help further curb the menace of terrorism.
Presiding over a high-level meeting at the DG Khan Commissioner Office after inaugurating a regional officer of CTD, he said immediate measures should be taken to protect the lives and properties of the people and an indiscriminate action should be taken against criminal elements.
He said the police should act swiftly to control street crimes and entry, as well as exit points of the district, should be strictly monitored.
“I am personally monitoring the law and order situation on a daily basis, but police and other law enforcement agencies should efficiently work in this regard too.”
The chief minister said that Border Military Police will further be strengthened and measures will be taken to strengthen Baloch Levies as well. “Five new posts of the Border Military Police are being set up because law and order is our top priority,” he added.
