Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that rural development (farms to market project), provision of clean water, energy projects and Faisalabad Mega Projects were at the top of Punjab Government agenda for which all resources are being utilized to improve the situation. He was addressing at the ground breaking ceremony of Punjab Bio-energy Institute and girls hostel for 1000 students at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad.
Talking about rural development, he said that the agriculture was the backbone of economy and the country was blessed with fertile land, four seasons and the best brains. He said that the rural development was directly linked to poverty alleviation. The government has initiated the new project titled 'farm to market' to address the problems of the farming community. In the first phase of the project, Rs 15 billion was being spent that will be elevated to Rs 150 billion in the next three years. The government has also introduced the cattle markets in the province. He said that population especially the rural was facing the sever problems of water that was responsible for making diseases. He said that work was being done to provide clean drinking water to rural population that will be completed in three years.
Talking about Pakistan China relations, he praised the Chinese government for initiating 45 billion dollar project China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that will help raise the standard of the life and open up new avenue of the employment and trade. He urged the students to learn the Chinese language to learn from their experiences and further strengthen Pak China ties. He said that around 20 billion dollars are being spent on energy issue. He said it was the investment not a loan.
Talking about the uplift work in Faisalabad, he said that Faisalabad was the industrial hub and contributing to textile sector. He said that many development programmes worth Rs 10 billion had been kicked off to provide the state-of-the-art facilities to the inhibitions at their doorstep. The reforms include establishment of canal express way, two underpasses, Children hospital, Haseeb Shahid hospital and others.
Commenting about the women education, he was of the view that fifty percent of our population consists of the women. It is the matter of the concern that they don't come in the practical life after getting education. He stressed the need to enhance their cooperation in the socio-economic activities of the country. He said that the government was fully committed to tackle the issue of law and order. The work on a project titled safe city was being carried out to monitor the activities of the people at the public places through cameras etc. He said that the energy was one of the issues crippling the life in the country. He said that many projects worth more than 20 billion dollar had been started to address the issue as the solar energy project in Bahawalpur; Coal project in Sahiwal; energy from gas project in Sheikhupura.
Talking about the UAF, he praised the University for becoming first ever university listed among top 100 universities of the globe. He hoped that that the university would enter in the top 50 universities of the globe in the coming years. UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said the Punjab Government had spent record money for UAF in the last five years. He said that establishment of girls hostel for 1000 women students funded by Punjab Government was the biggest women hostel in Pakistan. He said that the university has opened its different outshoot in Toba Tek Singh, Burewala and Depalpur-Okara Campus in the southern Punjab. He proposed opening a campus in the rice built. He lauded the steps being taken on the part of the Punjab government for the cause of education, agriculture and rural development. He said that Punjab government scheme of sending 300 UAF graduates to oversees will help ensure the food security in the country. He said that the theme of Punjab Cattle Market, Rural roads development, integrated rural development, was themed at that UAF.
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