’People’s welfare is PML-N’s agenda'

CM says welfare-oriented programs worth billions are being carried out successfully

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that bringing marked improvement in the standard of living of the impecunious strata is an important mission of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government.

He said that welfare-oriented programmes worth billions of rupees were being carried out successfully to achieve this agenda.



“Important steps have been taken by implementing composite development strategy to develop deprived and far-flung areas. Similarly, an efficient organisation by the name of Punjab Social Protection Authority has been established to carry out the agenda of welfare programmes in the province,” he said.

“Meanwhile, a historic annual development programme worth Rs635 billion is being carried out during the current fiscal year. The CM said this was the largest development programme in the history of the province which would usher in stable economic development. “Special attention had been laid on the development of the social sector in the Annual Development Program (ADP), he added.

He shared these views while talking to elected representatives of Southern Punjab on Tuesday. Shehbaz said the development of deprived areas was part of the priorities of the government. “Ample resources are being utilised for the development and prosperity of deprived areas under the ADP,” he added.



He added that improvement in education, healthcare, agriculture, water and social sectors was given importance. He said rulers from the southern Punjab came into power in the past, but nothing was done to overcome the backwardness of the area.

“On the other hand, elements enjoying high offices through hollow sloganeering of the rights of the people of southern Punjab had totally forgotten to serve locals after coming in power.” He said that credit goes to PML-N for giving special importance to development in the area.



The government implemented a solid strategy to get rid of backwardness of the area and to heal the wounds of the past. He said resources have been mobilised towards less developed and backward areas. “Mega projects worth billions of rupees have been completed in southern Punjab and work on many other projects was in progress.” “A mega project for the provision of clean drinking water was started in southern Punjab. On the other hand, thousands of kilometres of long rural roads have been constructed under the Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme. He said educational institutions like Daanish Schools had been established in different areas of the region and free opportunities of getting quality education had been provided to the children poor in these institutions. He added the monthly stipend of girls studying in public sector schools of southern Punjab had also been increased.

The CM said that the latest metro bus service which had been completed at a cost of billions of rupees in Multan and provided the latest transport facilities to the people of the region. Quality educational institutions, universities and hospitals had been established in southern Punjab, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2017.