LAHORE: The provincial government intends to prepare a separate Annual Development Pogramme (ADP) for south Punjab in the next fiscal and efforts are also afoot to separate the ADP for this year too by allocating the development budget scheme-wise and prepare separate finance books for south and rest of the province.

Punjab government had already allocated 35 percent of the province’s development budget for south and ring-fenced it so that these funds could not be withdrawn and utilised for the projects in other parts of the province.

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Thursday chaired a meeting and discussed progress made on the ADP (annual development programme) 2020-21.

The chief minister said separate funds had been allocated for south Punjab and its ADP would be evolved separately. He said the funds reserved for south Punjab would not be transferred anywhere else.

Mr Buzdar said land had been allocated for the establishment of south Punjab secretariat along with Rs4 billion funds.

The chief minister also stressed that all development funds should be utilised timely and added that speed of work should be accelerated on development projects, while ongoing schemes be completed on a priority basis.

Finance minister Hashim Jawan Bakht, chief secretary, planning and development chairman and secretary, finance secretary and others attended the meeting.

LGs: The Punjab government has granted approval to utilise funds under Punjab Municipal Services programme and launch development schemes at grassroots level under it.

This was decided in a meeting chaired by the CM to review the matters pertaining to local governments. Local government secretary gave a briefing to the meeting participants.

The CM directed to devise a mechanism for transparent funds distribution for local governments.

He said a strategy had been devised solving sewerage, sanitation issues and provision of potable water to the people.

PARLIAMENTARIANS: Higher education minister Raja Yasir Humayun and MPA Sardar Aftab Khan called on Chief Minister Usman Buzdar at his office on Thursday and apprised him about the initiatives taken for the promotion of higher education.

The CM said a university would be set up in every district and people be provided opportunities to access quality higher education near their homes.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2020