The Punjab government has sought development funds to the tune of $1.5 billion every year for health, education and other sectors. This was demanded during a meeting of a five-member delegation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headed by Country Director for Pakistan Xiaohong Yang with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Thursday.
On the occasion, progress on different projects started in collaboration with the ADB was also reviewed. The meeting agreed to further extend mutual cooperation in different sectors including public-private partnership based projects.
Talking on the occasion, Shahbaz said a number of development projects are being completed in collaboration with the ADB in different sectors including irrigation and energy. "The ADB is providing 500 million dollars funding for irrigation and energy projects," he said, adding: "The ADB should provide development funds to the tune of 1.5 billion dollars every year for health, education and other sectors. Financial support of ADB for development schemes aiming at public welfare during the next five years in Punjab will be appreciated by the government."
Country Director Xiaohong Yang said that reputation of Punjab has spread the world over and due to the completion of Punjab Safe City project, Lahore has become a fully secured city for investment and tourism. She said the vision of Chief Minister is commendable and exemplary and development projects have catalyzed positive change in the province. In fact, financial collaboration with a rapidly developing Punjab is an honor for the ADB and leadership abilities of Shahbaz Sharif for composite development in Punjab cannot be forgotten, she added.
Shahbaz further said that Greater Thal Canal and Greater Cholistan Canal Projects will also be completed with the ADB funding and added that water reserves will be developed in the outback of Cholistan to save canal and flood water. He said the vast expanse of Cholistan will be made green and cultivable through Water Resource Management Project, he said. "The Cholistan will be developed as a green basket not only for Punjab but for the whole of the country and contacts with Gulf States will be further improved by providing different facilities in Cholistan including airport." He said that the ADB's support for water treatment plant in Faisalabad is praiseworthy.
Shahbaz said Punjab is also credited of introducing cold chain project for most transparent system of distribution of medicines, he said. He said that 50 more mobile health units will be established for providing best healthcare facilities to the people in far-flung areas.
Meanwhile, best doctors from around the world will be invited to work in Multan Institute of Kidney Diseases (MIKD). He said that helicopter service is also being introduced for transportation of specialist doctors in remote hinterlands. He added that the Punjab government is also giving Rs 1000 stipend to girl students to increase literacy rate in the womenfolk. He said mobile phones will also be provided for prosperity of the farmers and to help increase the agricultural productivity.
Meanwhile, interest-free small loans are being provided to the skilled youth under Chief Minister's Self- Employment Scheme. He said that Purple Line Metro Train project will also be started through financial support of the ADB. Had the KPK accepted our proposal for the start of metro bus service earlier, the project would have been completed today, he added.
Head of PKUK Donath Walton, Urban Unit's Shaukat Shafi, Energy Unit's Asad Ali and Head of Financial Sector Shuzab Ali were included in the delegation while Chairman P&D Jehanzeb Khan, MD Punjab Mass Transit Authority Sibtain Fazal-e-Haleem and others were also present on the occasion.
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