CM Maryam claims improved rainwater drainage

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said on Sunday that drainage projects had brought a marked improvement in the situation during the monsoon season with rainwater that used to remain stagnant for months now being drained within hours.

She said during a meeting with Punjab Assembly members from Vehari that farmers in South Punjab were also benefiting from the Kisan Card and students from laptops and Honhaar scholarships.

She said construction of the Vehari-Multan road was the right of the people of the area that had been fulfilled.

Political affairs, development projects and public welfare schemes were discussed during the meeting with MPAs Muhammad Yousaf Kaseela, Malik Nosheer Anjum Langrial, Mian Muhammad Saqib Khurshid and Muhammad Naeem Akhtar Khan Bhabbha.

According to a statement, they expressed their gratitude to the CM Punjab for transforming the five-decade-old single and dilapidated road into a modern expressway, terming it a milestone for the development of the area.

They also thanked the chief minister for launching the electric bus service in Vehari.

The lawmakers said the bus service from Vehari to Burewala and Tibba Sultanpur was an excellent facility for the people, while free travel for students, women and senior citizens was an exemplary initiative.

They said mega projects worth around Rs21 billion had been launched for the first time in the tehsils of Burewala, Mailsi and Vehari.

The beautification of Vehari Rail Bazaar had ushered the city's urban culture into a new era, they said, adding that millions of passengers from four districts were benefiting from the dual-carriageway.

The CM said the Punjab Development Programme had, for the first time, introduced a culture of uniform development across the province.

The situation had improved significantly during the current monsoon due to drainage projects. "Rainwater that used to remain stagnant for days, weeks and months is now drained within hours," she said.