On the road to prosperity: CM announces additional allocation for south Punjab
Second phase of the Rural Roads Programme will begin next month
A file photo of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
South Punjab districts will receive an additional 10 per cent share in the budget for the Chief Minister’s Rural Roads Programme, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said while presiding over a meeting on Monday to review the pace of implementation of the project.
He said the government was looking to even out the development of urban and rural areas of the province. “The government has decided to allocate an additional 10 per cent quota for South Punjab districts in all its development programmes…prosperity in South Punjab reflects the government’s policy of balanced development.”
The chief minister said that the Rural Roads Programme would herald good news for those living in villages in the Punjab. The government would spend up to Rs150 billion to construct and rehabilitate roads in rural areas over the next three years.
The second phase of Pakian Sarkan – Sokhay Panday [mettled roads make for smooth journeys] will begin in September, the chief minister said. In this phase, concrete blocks will be placed on the edge of roads and speed breakers will be installed near populous areas. Sharif said the second phase will be completed speedily and there would be no compromise on the standard or transparency of the programme.
The government has devised a plan to provide good quality bitumen for the programme, he said. The government will also continue to take action against those involved in the sale and use of substandard Iranian substitute, he said.
The chief minister stressed the need to control overloading by vehicles. “The Rural Roads Programme will usher a new era of progress and will pave the way for skill development and employment opportunities in rural areas.”
Sharif said he was confident that the programme would bring a marked change in the life style of people living in rural areas and cultivators, workers, students and among others would benefit from it equally.
He said they would also plant trees as part of the project.
On the China-Pakistan economic cooperation
Politicians, bureaucrats and experts will have to work round-the-clock if they hope to fully benefit from the economic package for Pakistan announced by China, Sharif said while addressing a meeting in Beijing on Monday.
The meeting was held to review progress on the implementation of the economic package.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and senior officers of the federal and provincial governments attended the meeting.
“We must see it is a gift by a friendly country, but also as a test of our hard work and love for our country.”
He said he hoped that the nation would rise to the challenge. The chief minister said if traditional solutions were possible for problems Pakistan faced, issues like load-shedding would have been eliminated a long time ago.
Iqbal said a delay by any ministry or department in the implementation of the Chinese Economic Package for Pakistan would not be tolerated.
“This is why the Planning and Development Department reviews implementation of the Chinese Economic Package regularly.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2015.
South Punjab districts will receive an additional 10 per cent share in the budget for the Chief Minister’s Rural Roads Programme, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said while presiding over a meeting on Monday to review the pace of implementation of the project.
He said the government was looking to even out the development of urban and rural areas of the province. “The government has decided to allocate an additional 10 per cent quota for South Punjab districts in all its development programmes…prosperity in South Punjab reflects the government’s policy of balanced development.”
The chief minister said that the Rural Roads Programme would herald good news for those living in villages in the Punjab. The government would spend up to Rs150 billion to construct and rehabilitate roads in rural areas over the next three years.
The second phase of Pakian Sarkan – Sokhay Panday [mettled roads make for smooth journeys] will begin in September, the chief minister said. In this phase, concrete blocks will be placed on the edge of roads and speed breakers will be installed near populous areas. Sharif said the second phase will be completed speedily and there would be no compromise on the standard or transparency of the programme.
The government has devised a plan to provide good quality bitumen for the programme, he said. The government will also continue to take action against those involved in the sale and use of substandard Iranian substitute, he said.
The chief minister stressed the need to control overloading by vehicles. “The Rural Roads Programme will usher a new era of progress and will pave the way for skill development and employment opportunities in rural areas.”
Sharif said he was confident that the programme would bring a marked change in the life style of people living in rural areas and cultivators, workers, students and among others would benefit from it equally.
He said they would also plant trees as part of the project.
On the China-Pakistan economic cooperation
Politicians, bureaucrats and experts will have to work round-the-clock if they hope to fully benefit from the economic package for Pakistan announced by China, Sharif said while addressing a meeting in Beijing on Monday.
The meeting was held to review progress on the implementation of the economic package.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and senior officers of the federal and provincial governments attended the meeting.
“We must see it is a gift by a friendly country, but also as a test of our hard work and love for our country.”
He said he hoped that the nation would rise to the challenge. The chief minister said if traditional solutions were possible for problems Pakistan faced, issues like load-shedding would have been eliminated a long time ago.
Iqbal said a delay by any ministry or department in the implementation of the Chinese Economic Package for Pakistan would not be tolerated.
“This is why the Planning and Development Department reviews implementation of the Chinese Economic Package regularly.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2015.