Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said that the government is providing additional resources to pace up work of development projects being under way in the province.
He stated this while chairing a high-level meeting to review performance of various departments such as agriculture, livestock, communication and works, irrigation, information technology, forests, wildlife and fisheries at Chief Minister House here on Sunday.
The Chief Minister said that an effective monitoring system has been evolved under project management units to ensure quality work and timely execution of uplift projects. He said the PMUs have improved efficiency of all departments, while Planning and Development Department is also extending consultancy services regarding management and its role in the preparation and approval of developmental schemes is commendable. For the first time in Punjab's history, the uplift projects are being completed as per international standards, he said and asked the departments to adopt effective strategy and modern techniques to take forward the economic agenda of the government, he added.
Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said a satellite hub is being established at a cost of Rs 450 million to ensure access to inter-net at low rates, while Software Information Technology Park is another hallmark, which will expedite economic activities and help create employment opportunities. He said police patrolling posts are being automated to improve their performance as well as maintain criminals' record properly and 1124 Helpline being set up to help out the masses.
He further said the obsolete system of land and revenue record is being replaced with new management information system, which will remove the people's problems of property mutation, documentation and other related matters.
The Chief Minister directed the IT Department to chalk-out a comprehensive strategy for its promotion. The government also took solid steps to promote agriculture and improve financial conditions of the growers, and a new system of agri products marketing will be introduced to facilitate the farmers, he maintained.
He said Agri Research Board is reconstituted so as to keep the growers abreast about new agri researches to get enhanced yield. The Chief Minister said the government is expanding the road network under a comprehensive programme that will definitely pace up trade activities. He also directed the departments' concerned to ensure quality of work in the road and infrastructure projects.
He said the government's effective programme to curb water theft is bearing fruit and now the tail-end growers are getting adequate irrigation water. Hefty grants are being spent on canal lining, renovation of barrages and brick-lining of water courses to put the irrigation system on modern lines, he added.