Punjab CM claims record fund utilisation

Combined volume of Punjab PSDP, ADP reaches Rs740b

LAHORE:

Punjab has set a record of 96 per cent utilisation of development funds in 10 years.

This was stated by Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar while presiding over a meeting to review progress on Annual Development Programme (ADP) schemes.

The CM asked the departments to submit PC-I estimates of their schemes according to relevant rules at an early stage to speed up the development work.

He said the PTI-led government had presented the largest development budget in the province’s history as the cumulative volume of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and ADP had reached Rs740 billion.

As compared with the previous year, a 66 per cent increase has been made in the current year’s development budget, he highlighted. The government has started a large number of schemes under the ADP, valuing Rs560 billion, he said.

The CM made it clear that delay in work would not be tolerated as 98 per cent of the ADP schemes had already been approved. Progress on the schemes should be monitored through a foolproof mechanism, he said.

The chief minister said Punjab will collect Rs400 billion revenue in the current financial year from its own resources and Rs51 billion has already been collected three months, which is 41% more than the target.

He said Rs354 billion revenue was collected the previous year, which was 18% more than the target. A 28% increase has been made in the current year’s provincial revenue target, he added.

Read Govt ensuring sustainable development in Punjab: CM

Chief Minister Buzdar said Punjab was offering tax exemptions of more than Rs50 billion to various sectors.

He also said the government was introducing holistic reforms to streamline the pension, human resource management and property tax systems.

Free hand for law enforcers

In another development, Chief Minister Buzdar has given a free hand to law enforcing agencies (LEAs) to counter ongoing violent protests of a banned organisation.

Presiding over a meeting, he directed the LEAs to take all possible measure to maintain law and order in the province. The government cannot allow anyone to play with the lives and property of citizens. It is the responsibility of the government to maintain law and order and protect public property. The government will fulfill its responsibility in all circumstances, he underscored.

Provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat, Special Assistant Hasaan Khawar, chief secretary, inspector general of police, additional chief secretary for home affairs, principal secretary to the CM and additional IG of special branch attended the meeting.

The law minister directed the law enforcing agencies to take immediate steps to identify the perpetrators of firing on police during the recent protest. He said legal action should be taken against the identified persons without any delay.

Expressing sympathy with the families of the martyred police personnel, he warned that anyone who broke the law in Punjab would be brought to the book. He asked the members of the banned organisation to behave responsibly and not to play with the lives and property of citizens.

The minister said millions of people of Punjab were being affected by the protest, including patients, travellers and students.

“Instead of creating unrest, take a peaceful approach because Muslims across Pakistan, including government representatives, fully believe in the greatness and sanctity of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in every way, “ He suggested. The minister said that in all the incidents so far, only Pakistan has suffered in all respects and the nation and the country are being ridiculed all over the world.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2021.