LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif says bringing about improvement in standards of living of the poor is an important agenda of the PML-N government and programmes worth billions of rupees are being carried out successfully to achieve it.

He says important steps have been taken by implementing a development strategy to develop the deprived and far-flung areas and the Punjab Social Protection Authority has been established to execute the welfare programmes. Shahbaz has also pointed out a development programme worth Rs635bn being carried out during the current fiscal year and termed it the biggest development programme in the history of the province.

Shahbaz stated this while talking to elected representatives of south Punjab on Tuesday. He said development of the deprived areas was a part of government priorities and ample resources were being utilised for the purpose under the Annual Development Programme (ADP). He added that education, healthcare, agriculture, water and social sectors had been given importance.

Talking about the south Punjab, the CM said the rulers from the region came into power in the past but nothing was done to overcome the backwardness of the area. On the other hand, the elements enjoying high offices through hollow sloganeering of rights of the people of south Punjab had totally forgotten the people after coming into power. The credit went to the PML-N for giving special importance to the development of the southern part of the province where the government had implemented a solid strategy to get rid of its backwardness as well as to heal the wounds of the past, he added.

Referring to the resources mobilisded towards the less developed and backward areas like south Punjab, the chief minister stressed that mega projects worth billions of rupees had been completed there and work on many other projects was in progress. A mega project of provision of clean drinking water was also being started in south Punjab.

“Thousands of kilometers long rural roads have been constructed under Khadim-i-Punjab Rural Roads Programme and all these roads are carpeted. Educational institutions like Daanish Schools have also been established in different areas and free opportunities of getting quality education have been provided to the children of the poorest of the poor families in these institutions. He said that monthly stipend of girls studying in public sector schools of south Punjab has also been increased.”

The CM added metro bus service, completed with a cost of billions of rupees in Multan, had provided the latest transport facilities to the people of the region while quality educational institutions, universities and hospitals had also been established there. He concluded his statement by terming the development projects of the Punjab government an example regarding their transparency, quality and speed.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2017