Development agenda: Provision of civic facilities govt’s top priority, says CM

PML-N lawmakers, Norwegian ambassador call on Shahbaz Sharif

LAHORE: The government is implementing a comprehensive programme for the welfare and uplift of the people and raising their living standards, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Monday.

He was addressing a meeting at Civil Secretariat to review the pace of public welfare projects.

“Provision of maximum facilities possible to the common man is the top priority of the government. Public welfare projects are being completed on a priority basis,” he said. He said that projects costing billions of rupees had been started for the development of urban areas as well as strengthening the rural economy.

“Water supply, road repair and energy projects will be completed within the stipulated period,” he said.

The CM said that several mega projects for provision of basic amenities to the people had been completed throughout the province. “The programme for the uplift and prosperity of the masses is also being implemented successfully. The Punjab Educational Endowment Fund, the Apna Rozgar Scheme and the provision of interest-free loans projects have been completed and a large number of people are benefitting from these projects,” he said.

Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal and the Planning and Development Board chairman were present.

PML-N delegation

A delegation of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lawmakers called on the chief minister on Monday. Addressing them, the chief minister said that serving the people was an objective of the government. “A number of projects are being speedily implemented in the province for the welfare and uplift of the masses. Rs112 billion has been saved by maintaining transparency in setting up three gas-based energy projects in the Punjab. The PML-N government is free from corruption,” he said.

The chief minister said that billions of rupees was being spent on provision of education, health and basic civic facilities to the citizens. He said that vehicles worth billions of rupees had been distributed among the youth under the Self-Employment Scheme.

“The second phase of Khadim-Punjab Rural Roads programme is being implemented speedily. All rural roads in the Punjab will be repaired and rehabilitated by 2018. Thousands of megawatts of electricity will be added to the national grid by 2017. It will help control loadshedding,” he said.

The chief minister said the government was focusing on strengthening the country’s economy. He urged public representatives to maintain a close contact with the people. MNAs Chaudhry Nazir Ahmad Arain, Sardar Muhammad Irfan Dogar, Sahibzada Muhammad Nazir Sultan; MPAs Khurram Ijaz Chattha, Chaudhry Irshad Ahmad Arain, Sajjad Haider Gujjar, Faizan Khan Virk and Mansha Ullah Butt attended the meeting.

Norwegian envoy

Ambassador of Norway Tore Nedrebo called on the chief minister on Monday. Bilateral relations and promotion of cooperation were discussed at the meeting. The chief minister said that there were friendly relations between Pakistan and Norway. “Vast opportunities exist for the promotion of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

The CM said that investors from Norway could further promote cooperation in hydro power projects, agriculture and dairy farming sectors.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2016.