Putting an end to recent speculations about a change of guard in Punjab, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday again expressed his confidence in Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.
During his visit to Lahore, the premier clarified Buzdar would remain the chief minister of Punjab. “We have a system where someone is not allowed to work smoothly,” he noted.
PM Imran met Buzdar at the Chief Minister’s House and expressed his satisfaction over the provincial government’s efforts to provide relief to people.
He lauded the Punjab government for setting up the River Ravi Front Authority and other development projects.
The prime minister noted that the government’s smart lockdown strategy and effective implementation of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPS) had helped curb the spread of the disease.
Buzdar informed the premier that the provincial government had reduced its expenditure significantly. He further said the River Ravi Front Authority in the north of Lahore would develop a new city. He added that the new city would be spread over 100,000 acres and developed on the lines of Dubai. The private sector is expected to invest Rs5 trillion in the project.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Quaid-e-Azam Business Park as the chief guest, the prime minister said no nation in the world could aspire to become successful without industrialisation.
He added that the government would facilitate small and medium industries, businessmen and industrialists with initiatives like ease of doing business.
The premier pointed out that the country was leading the region in terms of industrialisation during the 60s, but lagged behind afterwards because of short-term policies.
He noted that Singapore had a $50,000 income per capita. “Those countries had planning but we lacked it. Countries like Malaysia and Korea borrowed the plans of industrialisation and excelled, but Pakistan lagged behind,” he added.
“Our only focus was on winning elections and short-term planning.”
The prime minister appreciated the business-friendly steps taken by the Punjab government and said the setting up nine economic zones and an incentives-laden package by the provincial government were steps in the right direction.
During a meeting with MNAs from different districts of Punjab, the premier announced that work on the Thal canal project would be kicked off soon – a project that would benefit the residents of Bhakkar, Khushab, Muzzafargarh and Layyah.
The members included Malik Muhammad Amir Dogar, Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Syed Faizul Hassan, Haji Imtiaz Ahmed Chuadhry, Malik Umar Aslam Khan, Maher Ghulam Muhammad Lali, Riaz Fityana, Malik Kirmat Ali Khokhar, Rai Muhmmad Murtaza Iqbal, Ahmed Hussain Dhaher, Mian Muhammad Shafiq, Tahir Iqbal, Niaz Ahmed Jhakar, and Sardar Muhammad Khan Leghari. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Punjab CM Buzdar were also present during the meeting.
The lawmakers briefed the prime minister about the steps taken to control the spread of coronavirus and address public issues and development projects in their respective constituencies.
The prime minister advised them to remain in regular contact with people and inform him about any administrative issue pertaining to the resolution of public problems.
PM Imran also met a delegation of lawmakers from southern Punjab. He assured them that the government was committed to the establishment of the South Punjab province and in a major step in this connection was setting up of separate secretariat for the region.
During the meeting, the prime minister also underlined the need for setting up a separate finance commission for the South Punjab province that was required for its development.
The prime minister also ordered the formation of a committee comprising members from the federal and provincial level to look into the constitutional requirements and other affairs for the establishment of the South Punjab province. The delegation included Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, National Food Security Minister Syed Fakhar Imam, Zahoor Hussain Qureshi, Malik Muhammad Aamir Dogar, Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, Mian Muhammad Shafiq, Makhdoom Syed Samiul Hassan Gilani, Tahir Iqbal, Syed Mobeen Ahmed, Chaudhry Javed Iqbal, Makhdoom Basit Bukhari, Niaz Ahmed Jhakar, Khawaja Sheraz Mahmood, Sardar Muhammad Khan Leghari, Sardar Muhammad Jaffar Khan Leghari, Sardar Nasrullah Draishak, Sardar Riaz Mahmood Khan Mazari, Dr Akhtar Malik, Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari, Abdul Hai Dasti and Hanif Pitafi. Industries Minister Muhammad Hammad Azhar and Chief Minister Buzdar were also present on the occasion.
The delegation said with the establishment of a separate secretariat for southern Punjab, public issues would be resolved in Multan and Bahawalpur.
The members also presented various proposals for meeting the constitutional requirements for the establishment of the South Punjab province.
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