Focus on development: Uplift of south Punjab, govt’s priority, says Shahbaz

Says development allocation will usher in a new era of prosperity

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif congratulated the provincial lawmakers on Wednesday for maintaining excellent conduct during the budget session and approving a provincial budget that, he said, would prove to be a milestone. “The development budget this year is the highest it’s ever been…it will change the destiny of our people.”

Sharif was speaking to lawmakers who called on him. The Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the current fiscal year has a budget of Rs550 billion, he said. “This will bring in an era of prosperity and development.”

Sharif said the allocation reflected the government’s priorities of raising the living standards of citizens. He said billions of rupees had been allocated for the uplift of backward areas and to bring prosperity to the people of south Punjab. He said more resources had been allocated for south Punjab, like in previous years.

The chief minister said this would bring a positive change in the lives of the people. “Utilisation of billions of rupees for education, health, agriculture and social sectors will improve the quality of services in these sectors.”

He said the package would ensure uplift of agriculture and prosperity of cultivators. He said a reduction in the prices of urea and DAP fertilisers and lower tariff for agri tube-wells, and provision of interest-free loans would benefit farmers.

He said the government had extended certain facilities to farmers on priority in order to make up for their losses due to recession at the global level.

The chief minister said the budget for the next financial year would change the destiny of the people. He said the new budget reflected the government’s desire to push for a strong economy and balanced development in all areas.

Sharif said that all measures proposed in the new budget would help alleviate poverty and will help bridge the gulf between the rich and the poor.

He said implementation of a programme for the repair and rehabilitation of rural roads would encourage progress of the rural economy.

Istanbul attacks

The chief minister on Wednesday strongly condemned the suicide attacks on the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul. He expressed sorrow and grief over the loss of life. He sympathized with the bereaved families and prayed for early recovery of the injured. The chief minister said that the Pakistani nation was with its Turkish brethren in this hour of grief.

Condemned

The chief minister on Wednesday strongly condemned the attack on security personnel in Quetta and expressed sorrow over the loss of lives. The chief minister also sympathized with the bereaved families.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2016.