Punjab government will allocate a sum of Rs six billion in the budget 2012-13 for the provision of small loans. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said this while talking to assembly members of various districts here on Thursday. Shahbaz said that young generation is the guarantee of a prosperous future of Pakistan; therefore, Punjab government is implementing a comprehensive programme for equipping the youth with modern education and training.
He said that distribution of 100,000 laptops computers among brilliant students will soon be started and this project will also be completed in a transparent manner like IT labs programme. He said that launching of modern, comfortable and affordable bus service in the provincial metropolis has resulted in availability of excellent transport facilities to the masses and this project is being extended to other big cities of the province as well.
The assembly members informed the Chief Minister of development projects and problems of the people of their respective areas. Talking to the parliamentarians, the Chief Minister said that all-out resources are being utilised for the speedy development of the province and special attention has been paid to the uplift of backward areas. He said that projects have also been started for the elimination of poverty and unemployment and interest-free loans of one billion rupees are being provided to the skilled under self-employment scheme.
He said that quality education is the only key to progress and revolutionary measures have been taken for the uplift of this sector. He said that Punjab Educational Endowment Fund has been set up first time in country's history and the amount of this fund has now exceeded Rs eight billion. He said that scholarships are being provided from this fund to brilliant boy and girl students not only of the Punjab but other provinces and Azad Kashmir as well and the sum of this fund will reach the figure of Rs 10 billion next year. He said that public-private partnership is being encouraged for the promotion of technical education and a roadmap is being evolved for this purpose. He said that schools reformation programme is being successfully implemented in the province and measures are being taken for achieving the targets of this programme expeditiously.
He said that British educationist Sir Michael Barbar, UK Department for International Development (DFID) and World Bank have also appreciated the steps taken by the provincial government in this regard. He said that transparency is the hallmark of Punjab government and a number of projects are being executed with the co-operation of local and foreign companies under this policy.
He said that the agreement signed with Turkey for solid waste management will help in making the provincial metropolis a clean city while the youth will be equipped with technical education under the agreement signed for vocational education. He said that agreements have been made with Turkish companies for co-operation in technical education, transport and other sectors, which will be completed speedily and in a transparent manner. He said that record funds have been allocated for the uplift of South Punjab and a network of development projects is being laid in this region.
He said that Punjab government took all out steps for the relief of flood affectees during the worst flood of the history last year. He disclosed that 22 model villages have been completed for the rehabilitation of flood affectees. He said that modern facilities have been provided in these villages due to which a new culture will usher in backward areas. He said that these villages have been completed with the assistance of Rs 1.55 billion provided by philanthropists. The facilities provided in these model villages included clean drinking water, schools, health centres, livestock sheds, biogas, solar energy, TEVTA training, veterinary dispensaries and parks.
The Chief Minister said that public service is the mission of the government and it is serving the masses with religious spirit. He called upon the elected representatives to ensure early completion of welfare projects in their respective areas and spare no effort for the solution of people's problems. Those who met the Chief Minister included Rana Ijaz Ahmad Noon, Mehdi Abbas, Shehryar Riaz, Khalid Mehmood Sargana and Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Bharat.