RAWALPINDI, April 5: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Monday directed the district governments to immediately sort out problems hindering the implementation of the Education Sector Reforms (ESR) in their jurisdictions.
The chief minister was talking to members of the provincial assembly from Sargodha Division, senior government officials and provincial ministers. The government has allocated Rs150 million for each district in the province for the Education Sector Reforms.
The chief minister categorically told the district governments that these irritants should immediately be done away with and all funds allocated under the ESR be utilized by the end of the current fiscal year. Emphasizing the need for streamlining the implementation of the ESR in the districts, Mr Elahi said this was very important for promotion of education in the province.
Talking to this reporter after the meeting, Provincial Minister for Law Raja Basharat said there were reports that certain problems were hindering the implementation of these reforms.
Regarding law and order situation, the chief minister criticized the police's poor record regarding the arrest of the offenders. He directed the police department to start a campaign to arrest the offenders. He told the police to bring to book anyone found sheltering anti-social elements.
"The goal of socio-economic development cannot be achieved without improving the law and order situation in the province," he added. Mr Elahi directed the district police officers to meet the members of the provincial assembly from their area every month to discuss the law and order situation in the district.
An effective strategy for improving law and order in the respective districts, he said, should be formulated in consultation with local MPAs. The faults and loopholes in the system should be identified and rectified while working in close liaison with the MPAs, he added.
Regarding the development projects, the chief minister said the government had accelerated the pace of electrification in the province and it was committed to electrifying all areas.
He also sought proposals from MPAs for mega-projects in their constituencies. The chief minister would be meeting the MPAs from Rawalpindi Division on Tuesday.
