Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that in the next budget the Punjab government will announce special packages for development of Dera Ghazi Khan Division. He was addressing a meeting held with regard to fixing priorities of next Annual Development Programme (ADP) for DGK division on Saturday, disclosed an official.
The meeting discussed in detail the progress of development projects, law and order situation and public welfare projects in the coming provincial budget for DGK division. Senators belonging to DGK division, Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Provincial Agriculture Minister Ahmad Ali Aulakh, Assembly Members, Chairman Planning and Development, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Provincial Secretaries, Chairman TEVTA, DG Anti-Corruption, Commissioner and District Co-ordination Officers and police officers attended the meeting.
The CM said special package will be included in the next provincial budget for the development of tourism and provision basic facilities in Fort Manro. "Similarly, a special package will also be introduced in the next provincial budget for the repair and construction of district and village roads at a cost of Rs 10 billion," he added.
He directed the concerned officials that the dues collected through sugar cess should be spent on the necessary construction and repair of the roads in the areas affected by flood so that local people should benefit. He said a high level bridge will be constructed between Bangle Iccha and Rojhan on River Indus at a cost of Rs 4.20 billion for the benefit of people of South Punjab due to which the distance between Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur will be reduced to only 65 kilometers.
He expressed his satisfaction that veterinary and agriculture colleges have become functional in Layyah due to which facilities of modern education are being provided to the students of this area in these sectors. "Quality education is being provided free of cost to the poor children near to their homes due to establishment of Daanish schools in the backward south districts. Keeping in view the importance of this scheme, it has been decided to set up a new Daanish school in Chowk Azam of Layyah," he added.
"Provision of solar energy panels and hand pumps will be included in the next development budget for the convenience of the people residing in tribal areas of DGK division. Similarly, special funds will also be provided for the water supply schemes in tribal areas so that potable water could be provided to the people. Facility of mobile health cover is also being introduced for the livestock breeders in tribal areas.
The protective arrangements will be made more effective through bulldozers for saving the local population from the devastations of hill torrents under a comprehensive plan for coping with the flood," he disclosed. He said best health and educational facilities have become available to the people of South Punjab due to the provision of mobile health units and setting up of Daanish schools. He said under this strategy, Ghazi University and medical college are also being set up in DGK.
"The provincial government has decided to recruit 21,000 new science teachers on merit and ability; in this way, the total number of science teachers in the province will raise to 51,000," he added. He congratulated the Assembly members regarding approval of the resolution with regard to setting up new provinces in Punjab Assembly and took a stance that a high level representative commission be constituted at country's level for this purpose.
He said the PML-N as a political party, has taken this decision after thorough consideration and they will move forward over this issue with sincerity keeping in view country's interest. "If other political party is sincere then it should first decide parameters for establishing new provinces through constituting representative commission of elite, constitutional experts and other stakeholders of all the four provinces that how important and serious issues like representation in Senate, provision of water and distribution of resources among all federating units under National Finance Commission will be decided," he added.