Rs190b set aside for South Punjab’s development: Buzdar

CM says govt believes in ‘balanced development approach’

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar said on Monday the government followed the approach of balanced development in the province and South Punjab has been given due share in the uplift budget.

Buzdar said several development projects have been started in South Punjab with Rs190 billion in the current financial year. In a statement issued on Monday, the CM said the development budget was ring-fenced along with a compilation of the separate ADP book. “Credit goes to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for allocating a separate budget to ensure development and prosperity in South Punjab,” he remarked.

The chief minister stressed that the PTI-led government believed in performance and delivery instead of hoodwinking the people with hollow slogans.

He also reiterated that development was a fundamental right of the people living in South Punjab and pointed out that another commitment was fulfilled by giving administrative autonomy to the South Punjab secretariat.

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“The cabinet has also passed the South Punjab secretariat’s rules of business,” he highlighted. While criticising the past governments over what he called “befooling the people of South Punjab with hollow slogans” by using its budget on projects of their own choice, he said South Punjab was badly ignored in the past and funds were spent on other projects by imposing cut on South Punjab budget.

Criticising, the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) rally in Dera Ghazi Khan, Buzdar said the people of DG Khan have “rejected the defeated elements of the PDM alliance”.

He said holding a small meeting confirmed the weak political position of the opposition parties. “The citizens have also noticed the abrupt grouping of an unnatural alliance on a small road,” he remarked.

The CM was of the view that the PDM failed to pull the crowd even though several parties allied against the government.

Masses’ disinterest shows that they need development and prosperity instead of chaos and instability. The PDM has lost its credibility by indulging in negative political agenda and this proves that it has no future,” the CM said.

“After the flopped DG Khan show, the so-called politics of the PDM alliance has ended for good.”

Buzdar said the opposition could only raise hollow slogans as it is unable to materialise things or deliver to the masses.

“The rejected elements have no political future,” he maintained adding “disappointment is visible on their faces.”

The 220 million people have full confidence in the leadership of PM Imran Khan and we are all united under his command,” he asserted. "The anarchists should realise facts as these elements were trying to interrupt the development process which will not end and the critics will be disappointed,” concluded the CM.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2021.