CM hopes ‘Ehsas’ won’t be given up

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has expressed hope that the Ehsas Programme and rehabilitation of flood-affected people in the province will continue in future.

He was speaking to Punjab Ehsas Programme chief Dr Sania Nishtar who gave him a briefing on Saturday about financial assistance for the deserving families and the progress made regarding the rehabilitation and settlement of the flood-hit people.

The CM said exemplary work had been done for the rehabilitation of the affected people through the Ehsas Programme.

Highlighting that modern technology had been utilised in order to obtain data of the flood-affected people, he said their help should continue in future.

The CM maintained that the programme had not be discontinued in any tenure in view of its paramount significance. He claimed that there had been no precedent in the past with regard to transparent utilisation of funds.

He said the Punjab government had also allocated Rs1 billion for the affected people in Sindh. The amount would be disbursed to the Sindh government upon the receipt of authentic data, which had not been provided so far, he added.

The CM complained that the Sindh government had not even replied to a letter sent by the authorities in Punjab regarding the matter.

He said helping the flood survivors was a welfare initiative and then lack of cooperation by the Sindh government was incomprehensible. The Punjab government and departments concerned had contacted their counterparts in Sindh in this regard in every possible manner, he claimed.

The chief minister also claimed that the federal government had not paid even a single penny to the authorities in Punjab for helping the flood-hit people in their rehabilitation and settlement.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi laid the foundation stone of the Arfa Twin Towers Project in Lahore. He was informed that that the project would be implemented on the land adjacent to the Arfa Karim IT Park. Initial cost of the project has been estimated at Rs12 billion.

The CM said the Punjab government was already constructing a hospital on the old vegetable market land, while the twin towers project was aimed at promoting the software industry to provide employments to youth.

The 17-storey twin towers will also prove beneficial in generating a revenue by housing offices of national and international companies.

The CM highlighted that the technology echo system held the importance of backbone for the economy of several countries and Pakistan could not afford to lag behind in the field of IT.

Majlis Taraqqi-e-Adab Director Asghar Abdullah also met the chief minister and apprised him of the performance of the organisation and related affairs. The CM underscored that literary and intellectual persons played a pivotal role in the development of a healthy society.

He outlined that the Punjab government had laid the foundation to enable the literary organisaton to play a vigorous and effective role in accordance with the requirements of the modern era.

The CM disclosed a state-of-the-art book warehouse and display centre would be established for the Majlis Taraqqi-e-Adab. A literary cafe and well-equipped conference hall will also be established.

He said literary workshops and internship programmes would be organised for students.

The CM directed the organisation publish special editions for the students and complete an e-reader project at the earliest. He issued directives regarding the transfer of the old building of the Majlis and announced a special grant for it.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2023.