The Punjab government has devised an action plan to curtail non-developmental expenditures to allocate maximum resources for the welfare of poor masses. The Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, said this while talking to members of Punjab Assembly, here on Monday.
Shahbaz told the legislators that special attention has been paid in the provincial budget 2009-10 and Annual Development Programme (ADP) to the projects aimed at raising the living standard of the masses, provision of basic amenities to them as well as elimination of poverty, ignorance and unemployment from the province.
He said that huge funds of 175 billion rupees have been allocated for the ADP, which will provide a solid basis for development process in the province. He stressed upon assembly members to ensure public participation in the development activities and solution of people's problems.
Shahbaz said that despite limited resources, the government has presented an excellent budget in which priority has been given to facilitate the masses. He said that substantial funds have been earmarked for education, health, water supply, social development and other sectors. He said that Food Support Programme initiated for the poor and destitute persons is being further improved. He said that scope of the provision of modern health facilities and free medicines is being extended to district and tehsil levels so that state-of-the-art medical facilities could be available to the masses at their doorstep.
He said that Danish schools are being set up in the province at a cost of billions of rupees where besides excellent academic facilities, free boarding and lodging, uniform and textbooks will be made available to the students. He said that 'Sasti Roti Scheme' is a revolutionary welfare project of the government and poor people are fully benefiting from this scheme.