Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif Sunday presided over a meeting which reviewed proposals of provincial budget for the new financial year 2017-18 and priorities of Annual Development Programme 2017-18 in detail. Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said that next provincial budget will be people-friendly, farmer-friendly and industrialist-friendly. He said that new schemes will be introduced for public welfare in the budget and no new tax will be imposed.
He said that scope of programme of welfare of common man will be expanded and more resources will be earmarked for the development of backward areas in the budget. Punjab government will forward the policy of equal development of rural and urban areas, he added. The Chief Minister said that welfare of the common man and provision of quality facilities to him is among our priorities and this policy will be forwarded in the proposals of new provincial budget. Reviewing in detail the priorities of Annual Development Programme 2017-18, Shahbaz Sharif said that Punjab government has achieved development targets of current fiscal year through effective strategy. He said that volume of Annual Development Programme for next fiscal year will be a record and timely and high standard completion of development projects are our priorities. He said that more resources will be provided for the development of districts of south Punjab.
He dilated that for betterment of people a project of potable water at a cost of billions of rupees will be launched from south Punjab. He said implementation on this programme will commence simultaneously in 37 tehsils of south Punjab in first phase.
He said more funds will be allocated for education, health, provision of clean drinking water and other social sectors. New steps will be taken for further improvement in infrastructure and transport sectors, he added. He said an example has been set by saving billions of rupees in development projects and added that this policy will be forwarded.
He said that development of agriculture sector is of paramount importance for stability of economy and solid steps have been taken for uplift of agriculture and welfare of farmers. He said development of agriculture and provision of better facilities to the cultivators during next fiscal year is included in the priorities. He said that the pivot of all the priorities is welfare of common man and speedy development of the province. He said that energy projects are being forwarded rapidly and added that darkness will be removed from the country in 2018.
The Chief Minister said that journey of development will be continued with hard work and determination during next year. The meeting also reviewed progress of development projects under Annual Development Programme 2016-17. Provincial Ministers Malik Nadeem Kamran, Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Member National Assembly Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Secretary, Advisor Dr Umer Saif, Additional Chief Secretary Home, Chairman Planning & Development, Secretaries of concerned departments and senior officials were present on the occasion while Provincial Minister Rana Sanaullah participated in the meeting from Faisalabad and Senator Saood Majeed from Bahawalpur through video link.
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