10,000 additional classrooms to be built this year

CM says classrooms at schools in southern Punjab will be built first

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday chaired a meeting where it was decided to construct 10,000 additional classrooms at schools across the province this year.  Schools in southern Punjab districts will be given priority under the Khadim-i-Punjab Schools Programme.

The chief minister said he hoped that the project would help in the uplift of education sector. He directed the Communication and Works Department to complete the scheme on time. “High standards should be ensured in the construction of classrooms. An effective monitoring system should also be devised in this regard,” Sharif said. The chief minister said 25,000 classrooms would be built over the next two years. He called for providing missing facilities at schools. Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmad, the chief secretary, the education secretary and the communication and works secretary attended the meeting.

Security

The chief minister also chaired a meeting to review law and order situation across in the province. He told the participants that maintaining order was a priority of the government. He said police and other law enforcement agencies should spare no effort for the purpose. “Supremacy of law should be ensured at all costs. An effective strategy should be adopted to curb heinous crime.”

Sharif asked senior police officers to hold meetings to review security situation in their areas. He called for taking indiscriminate action against criminals. Chief Minister’s Special Assistant Rana Maqbool Ahmad attended the meeting.

Public health

Sharif announced a Rs500,000 cash prize for the Punjab Institute of Cardiology administration for ensuring good treatment and cleanliness arrangements at the hospital. Chairing a meeting to review the PIC performance, the chief minister announced commendatory certificates for the staff. He said that during a surprise visit to the hospital the other day he was pleased to see the arrangements. He praised doctors, nurses and other hospital staff for working hard to provide quality services to the patients.

“They deserve respect. We will continue to encourage them,” he said. He said he realised that patients faced problems [due to shortage of space] at the PIC. He said that the problem would be addressed when a new block started functioning. He said the patients who could be treated at other hospitals should be shifted there under a referral system. “A system should be in place to provide medicines to patients in their own cities. This will spare them the hassle of visiting Lahore for the purpose,” the chief minister said.

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