Biggest package for South Punjab uplift: CM
Our CorrespondentSaturday, June 14, 2014
From Print Edition
LAHORE
CHIEF Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the biggest development package of history has been announced for the development and welfare of the people of South Punjab in the new budget.
He said the PML-N Punjab government had allocated 32 percent development funds against the ratio of 31 percent population of South Punjab during previous year whereas 36 percent resources had been allocated in next fiscal year which was a record in the history of Punjab province. He said a huge amount of Rs119 billion had been allocated for development projects of South Punjab for next year and Rs260 billion would be spent on the completion of these development projects. He said that best, balanced and poor-friendly budget of Punjab had been prepared and huge amounts allocated for the development of education, health, law & order and social sectors. Shahbaz Sharif said record amount of Rs345 billion had been allocated for the development projects which was the biggest development budget in the history of the province.
Assembly members of South Punjab had paid rich tributes to Shahbaz Sharif on the announcement of biggest development package of the history for the people of South Punjab.
Expressing their views on the next financial budget, assembly members said Shahbaz Sharif had won the hearts of people of South Punjab by allocating an amount of Rs119 billion and a new era of development will usher in through this development package. They said earlier claims were made for the development of South Punjab but, in fact, practical steps for development had been taken only by Shahbaz Sharif in the real sense on which he deserved congratulation. They said rapid development and prosperity of South Punjab would be possible through these allocated funds and modern facilities would become available to the people of the area. Assembly members lauded the step of upgrading district and tehsil headquarters hospitals and establishment of new hospitals for the provision of free treatment facilities to the people of South Punjab. They said the efforts of the chief minister for elimination of energy crisis would bear fruit and darkness will be eliminated from the country.
Meanwhile, addressing a meeting of Provincial Parliamentary Party of PML-N at Chief Minister’s Office, here Friday, the chief minister said the masses laid a heavy responsibility on PML-N by giving it the mandate to overcome energy crisis and eliminate corruption and terrorism.
The chief minister said former rulers through their loot and corruption, brought the country and its economy on the verge of bankruptcy and disaster while the nation was put into worst darkness. He said Pakistan could achieve a dignified status in the comity of nations through hard work and commitment. He said development targets could not be achieved without elimination of corruption and the collusion between contractors, corrupt officers and some politicians had weakened the foundations of the country. He said the time had come to put an end to this evil alliance and purge the country of the curse of corruption. He said that the people and elected representatives would have to make joint efforts to root out corruption and ensure completion of development schemes as well as utilisation of funds in a transparent manner.
He said special attention had been paid to the development of South Punjab and uplift projects worth billions of rupees had been completed in this region. He said the longest metro bus service of Pakistan was being started in Multan and a sum of more than Rs30 billion would be spent on this project.
Provincial Minister for Finance Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman said the growth rate of eight percent had been fixed for next four years and work had been started to achieve this target. He said new budget would prove to be a milestone in the development of Punjab. He said the people of Punjab were fortunate to have a leader like Shahbaz Sharif whose qualities had been acknowledged even by international institutions and personalities. Provincial Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah Khan said the provincial budget was a sacred agreement with 100 million people of Punjab and its implementation under a phased programme during next four years will result in progress and prosperity of the province.
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