Big numbers: ‘Govt has best interest of villages at heart’

Minister says billions being spent on socio-economic uplift of the masses

LAHORE: The government has initiated a number of welfare projects for the socio-economic uplift of the masses, Minister for Excise and Taxation Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman said on Monday.

He was addressing various delegations at his house. He said Rs150 billion had been set aside for the improvement of roads in rural areas. Similarly, subsidy on tractors and projects to provide safe drinking water in 11 districts of south Punjab will be carried out at a cost of Rs30 billion, the minister said. The Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park will be constructed with Rs150 billion, and that’s only one of several energy projects, he said. As much as 95 per cent of discretionary funds are being used to provide health facilities to financially disadvantaged people, Rehman said. “The poor are being given aid and grants.”

Rehman said Rs167.3 billion had been allocated in the budget to provide modern healthcare to the masses. “Another Rs3 billion is being spent on setting up a modern kidney and liver centre.”

He said Rs10.82 billion will be spent on providing medicines at hospitals. He said the government had accorded highest priority to health and education.

“The budget for health and education has been increased drastically and additional resources have been provided to hasten efforts for prompt achievement of Millennium Development Goals.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2015.