LAHORE, March 8: The Punjab government has instructed all its departments to finalize development scheme proposals by April every year, get money in June and open tenders by July.

This was stated by Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi after inaugurating the FC College underpass here on Monday. He said the government had ordered this to ensure the timely completion of development projects.

All those departments, which failed to utilize development funds, had been told to catch up with the efficient departments. He, however, said overall performance of his government was much better than many others in the past.

The chief minister denied shortage of flour in the province. "The government has not banned inter-provincial movement of wheat to meet its obligations towards smaller provinces. Wheat and flour are still being supplied to other province from the Punjab, which has sufficient stock to see the season through.

Besides, the province is also supplying 6,000 tons of wheat to Azad Kashmir and has already supplied 50,000 tons to Sindh." He added that it would increase supply under the 'Sasta Ata Scheme' to benefit the poor.

Mr Pervaiz Elahi said more underpasses would be built in the city according to the traffic load on different roads. The Kalima Chowk, Qartaba Chowk and the Data Sahib Chowk are under consideration for the upcoming projects.

The government, he said, was alive to the traffic problems in the province and build such underpasses in all cities. The Ring Road project would be inaugurated in June this year, which would help solve the city's traffic problems, he said.