May 15, 2006	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 16, 1427

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LAHORE, May 14: The federal government assured Punjab on Sunday that it would allocate funds for its different programmes, especially in the livestock, environment and health sectors, in the next federal budget.

The assurance was given by Planning Commission of Pakistan Deputy Chairman Akram Sheikh and Federal Secretary (Planning) Malik Muhammad Akram during a meeting with Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi here at the CM Secretariat.

Chief Secretary Salman Siddique, Planning and Development Board Chairman Suleman Ghani and secretaries of departments concerned assisted the chief minister.

Sources privy to the meeting said Mr Akram Sheikh asked the chief minister to send a proposal regarding the province’s requirements for these sectors so that necessary funds could be made available for the purpose in the next fiscal year.

He also pledged federal government’s support for the construction of a state-of-the-art cancer hospital in Lahore. Basic planning for the hospital, to be the first of its kind in the public sector in the province, had already been done and the project would be launched soon after the commitment of funds, the sources said.

They said Mr Sheikh expressed his satisfaction over the establishment of trauma centres in different cities of the province. He asked the chief minister to set up more such centres for which the federal government would extend all the required financial support.

A similar commitment was made for the burn units, which the provincial government intended to set up in almost all cities in the province.

Mr Sheikh appreciated the provincial government’s Green Punjab Programme, launched with a seed money of one billion rupee, and pledged to provide funds for making it a success. Promotion of CNG vehicles for improving environment was a priority area of the federal government and it would make adequate allocations for the purpose in the next budget, he said.

Earlier, the chief minister briefed the federal government representatives on different projects of his government. He reportedly offered to provide provincial land for all federal government projects. He said Punjab would especially provide land for the establishment of universities. There was a plan to establish a new engineering varsity here for which the province would give free land, he reportedly said.

The chief minister said a mega programme was being given a practical shape to help eliminate backwardness in the province and for its urban development. All mega projects were being completed with record speed, he said.

He said the federal, provincial and district governments were jointly following the reform agenda which was giving positive results. The completion of the mega projects would leave a positive impact on the economy of the province.

The chief minister said the livestock sector was the best source of reducing poverty and expediting rural development by increasing the income of ordinary people. That was why the government was adopting special measures to strengthen this sector.

He said the provision of loans for the purchase of milch cattle had benefited a lot of people and that was why this programme was being extended. Effective planning was also being made for the promotion of vocational education so that maximum employment opportunities could be created for the people, he said.

The chief minister said huge resources were being spent for the provision of modern health facilities to the people. Availability of medicines and staff was being ensured in the health centres under the health sector reforms programme.

He said the agriculture marketing sector was being fortified to ensure proper payment to farmers and better marketing of their agriculture produce. Farmers were being provided laser levellers at the union council level, he said.

He said the government was implementing a project to improve the marketing of handicrafts, locating new markets for them.