LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has directed the department concerned to complete the new Punjab Assembly building by the end of September.

He set the deadline during a meeting held here on Thursday to review progress on the new MPAs hostel and Punjab Assembly building. The Chief Minister and Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi chaired the meeting.

While expressing dissatisfaction over the failure in completing the work within the stipulated period, the CM said that there is no justification for the delay despite the availability of funds. He assured that the Punjab government will continue its full support with regard to the remaining work of the new building. "The new building will be a state-of-the-art design and funds will be provided on a priority basis for its early completion of. Since this project as started during Pervaiz Elahi's government, it became a victim of the previous tenure. Had the past government not stopped this important project for 10 long years, we would have not held the budget session in the hotel due to the Coronavirus," he regretted.

Elahi appreciated the support of the CM with regard to the construction of the new Assembly building and hostel. "The past rulers willingly delayed the project, which resulted in wastage of public money and increase in construction cost," he added.

Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat, Chairman P&D, Secretary C&W, Secretary Finance, Secretary Punjab Assembly and others attended the meeting. Meanwhile, in a separate meeting, the CM and Speaker discussed matters of mutual interest. Both agreed to jointly counter the propagandists.

Buzdar said that critics will be left behind and the new Pakistan will continue to move forward under the leadership of PM Imran Khan. He regretted that the critics have engaged in propaganda with a specific agenda while the best relationship exists between the PTI and PML-Q in Punjab.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020