LAHORE: Residents of Faisalabad and Multan will begin availing themselves of the facility of metro bus service within a year as the departments concerned with the infrastructure development have been issued directions in this respect.

It was learnt that directions were issued by the chief minister during a meeting held here on Wednesday to review the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for 2014-15.

"Work on the metro bus projects in Multan and Faisalabad must be completed during the financial year 2014-15," a participant of the meeting quoted Shahbaz Sharif as asking the authorities concerned.

The chief minister also sought allocation of 35 per cent ADP funds for south Punjab in the next financial year. Earlier, the Seraiki belt had been getting 22pc share.

The ADP will be approximately Rs340 billion next year as the total outlay of the budget will be more than Rs1 trillion, an official says.

A press release quoted the chief minister as setting 8pc growth rate target for the next four years, evolving a strategy for creating one million new jobs per annum.

The chief minister said that strenuous efforts would have to be made to achieve four years' growth plan results.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2014