Government committee to keep Punjab austere

CM says province will take the lead in implementing 100-day plan of PM

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar formed a committee on Monday to promote austerity and curtail unnecessary expenditures.

The chief minister reiterated that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, would work tirelessly to achieve the goal of establishing a ‘new Pakistan.’



He assured the province would take the lead in the implementation of the 100-day-plan of the premier. The plan includes improvement of public hospital emergencies, provision of free medicines and distribution of Insaf Health Cards, he said. The CM added necessary steps were being taken to introduce reforms in the Punjab Police along the same pattern as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

He assured that a comprehensive roadmap would be designed to ensure the provision of safe and clean drinking water to every citizen of the country. Similarly, employment opportunities for the jobless, promotion of skill-based education, roofs for the homeless and development of backward areas were all part of the government’s priorities.

The chief minister said authorities were focused on national development and prosperity. “The promotion of good governance, merit, transparency, and austerity would be ensured in all tiers of government,” he said. Buzdar added that PTI’s leadership was committed to promoting austerity and curtailing unnecessary expenditures in Punjab. He pointed out that was the reason a high-level committee was formed in the province for the very same purpose.

The CM asserted that every possible effort would be made to realise the dream of a new Pakistan, under the leadership of Imran Khan, and solid steps were being taken for public welfare, in line with the premier’s vision.

“We will work very hard to implement the 100-day agenda of the PTI leadership and the fruit of our labour will soon be visible to the people,” Buzdar said. “Progress on the implementation of 100-day agenda will be monitored as the party leadership is fully committed to fulfilling its promises to the people during electioneering.” He continued that public service part of the party’s vision and the promised social change would be noticeable soon. The CM was confident that people would see a change in the quality of their lives.

Buzdar said the Punjab government had already decided to extend the scope of the health insurance scheme to the entire province. He pointed out that provincial minister for Health Dr Yasmin Rashid had given the go-ahead to extend the health insurance scheme to the remaining 19 districts of the province.



Earlier, the scheme was launched as a pilot project in four districts of Punjab with the aim to provide medical cover to people from low-income groups. Following its success, the scheme was extended to another 13 districts. Rashid underscored that both Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar wanted to Punjab into a `role model’ for the health sector of other provinces.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2018.