LAHORE: Governor Chaudhry Sarwar said on Tuesday that successive governments had neglected south Punjab but the present government was taking measures for public development and prosperity of the area.

He said the problems of people would also be solved at their doorsteps through the new local government system.

He said he would inaugurate 20 more projects of the Punjab Aab Pak Authority for south Punjab.

The governor was talking to the media on Tuesday.

He said the main cause of problems like inflation and unemployment in the country was the result of failed policies of previous governments.

He added that in addition to providing basic facilities like education, the government was also providing relief through projects like Ehsaas programme.

Mr Sarwar said politicians from south Punjab held important government positions, but the problems of south Punjab increased.

He said that the Kissan Card was also a gift of the government, adding that the government was also working for equal development in Punjab.

More than 200 projects of the Punjab Aab-i-Pak Authority are ongoing for providing safe drinking water to the people of south Punjab.

The governor said that these projects would be completed by March 2022 and 20 more projects were being inaugurated, adding that clean drinking water would be provided to the people of south Punjab in cities and villages without any political discrimination.

About the local body elections in Punjab, Mr Sarwar said that for the first time in Punjab the powers were being transferred to the lower level and the new local body system would not only strengthen democracy but also solve the problems of the people at their doorsteps.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2022