LAHORE: The Punjab government is all set to earmark around Rs600 billion for the Annual Development Programme for 2017-18, which will be some Rs50 billion more than the allocation for the current fiscal year.

Sources told Dawn that an approval was granted at the

ADP 2017-18 priorities’ review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Saturday.

The government will be focusing more on development projects in south Punjab to counter the narrative of Seraiki province proponents.

It is learnt that the Punjab government, in its last year of the five-year tenure, will be focusing more on completing ongoing schemes and mega projects such as Khanewal-Lodhran road.

The Punjab government will also be focusing on Safe City Project in six more cities with a total cost of around Rs50 billion. The Safe City Project in Lahore with the installation of most advanced CCTV cameras is being completed at a cost of around Rs12 billion.

Saaf Pani programme is another initiative the Punjab government is taking seriously. The programme is being launched in 37 tehsils of south Punjab and the government plans to complete it early next year.

Besides increasing beds capacity in existing hospitals in south Punjab, the government would also be making some 16 more mobile hospitals in south Punjab during the next financial year.

The chief minister directed the P&D and finance department officials to pay special attention to the development of social sectors in the next ADP to provide relief to the people in real terms and ensure sustainable development.

The chief minister said special measures should also be taken for the development of the agriculture and welfare of farmers, adding that a network of carpeted roads had been laid in rural areas under Khadam-i-Punjab Rural Roads Programme, which would continue in the next fiscal year.

Mr Sharif also asserted that the bureaucracy must work and fulfill government’s commitment towards offering standardised medical facilities to the masses at all costs. He stressed that all projects should complete in time by utilising funds so that people could get fruits of the policies of the government.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Rana Sanaullah Khan, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, the chief secretary, the P&D chairman, secretaries of departments concerned and other senior officers.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2017