29 May 2004	Saturday	09 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

LAHORE, May 28: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has said that the Punjab Development Fund (PDF) will be an effective source for additional resources to ensure timely completion of development and welfare-oriented programmes in the Punjab.

He was presiding over a high-level meeting held in connection with the Punjab Development Fund, here on Friday. The meeting was attended by Bank of Punjab Chairman Shahzad Hassan Pervaiz, Managing Director Hamesh Khan, Information Secretary Taimur Azmat Osman and others.

The chief minister stressed that the Punjab Development Fund could achieve its uplift targets only through active public cooperation. He said the present government was giving a practical shape to the concept of people's participation in completion of development projects because only collective efforts by government and the people could effectively accelerate the process of social development in province.

He said that solid foundations had been laid for streamlining agricultural, industrial, housing, education, health and other development sectors. He said the present government was vigorously striving for providing financial relief to the poor and improve their living standards.

He said that long-term planning was being carried out for elimination of unemployment and poverty in the province, and averred that all concerned institutions had been reactivated to ensure provision of necessary infrastructure along with initiating mega projects in all cities of Punjab.

The chief minister said it was being ensured that government resources were utilized in a transparent manner and all development projects were completed in stipulated period. He said special attention was being paid to road sector development.