Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif held a four hours' long video conference from London on Monday to review forthcoming budget and salient features of Annual Development Programme. The CM while addressing the meeting through video conference, said speedy development of the province and provision of basic amenities to the people is top priority of the government.
"Like previous years, public welfare programmes of billions of rupees would be continued in future as well, more funds compared to the past would be allocated for the provision of facilities in education, health and other social sectors." He said billions of rupees would be spent for the welfare of people during next financial year and special attention would be paid to the development of rural and backward areas, project of provision of clean drinking water to the citizens would be completed speedily.
He said every step of the government is directed towards prosperity of the people and development of the province, transparency, standard and speed are hallmarks of the Punjab government. He said the government is custodian of every penny of public people and all resources are being utilised for the welfare of the people whereas billions of rupees saved in development projects are also being spent on public welfare projects.
The CM ordered officers concerned that the ADP should reflect public aspirations and ensure provision of basic amenities to the people at their doorstep, such development projects should be completed on priority basis during next fiscal year as could benefit maximum people for bringing improvement in the living standard of the common man is the priority of the government. He directed that the ongoing public welfare schemes should be completed on priority basis so that people could be provided relief. Timely completion of public welfare schemes is utmost necessary.
He said that special measures would be taken in the next budget for the development of education and health sectors and provision of basic amenities to the citizens. Funds of billions of rupees saved through curtailing non-developmental expenditure and policy of austerity are also being spent on the projects of provision of basic amenities to the masses, austerity policy and reduction in non-development expenditure would be continued in future as well.
Shahbaz said that energy projects would be completed speedily due to which darkness would be removed from the country till 2018. Punjab government has taken revolutionary steps for the empowerment of youth, thousands of youth have been made skilful through Skill Development Company and special steps will also be taken in the next budget for equipping hundreds of thousand of youth with vocational education.
The CM directed that due attention would be paid under Annual Development Programme for the progress and prosperity of masses and achievement of the targets of strengthening of economy, all departments should ensure completion of development projects within stipulated period and vigorous efforts should be made for achieving the targets fixed for this purpose.
He said a new example has been set by saving billions of rupees in development schemes and this policy would be followed in future as well, a big programme is continuing successfully for the provision of modern and dignified transport facilities to the citizens He said after success of metro bus service in Lahore and Rawalpindi-Islamabad, metro bus project is in the final stages in Multan that has proved to be a milestone in infrastructure sector' work is also continuing speedily on splendid project of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train and its completion will change transport culture.
Provincial Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah from Commissioner Office Faisalabad, Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha from Punjab House Islamabad, Ministers Zakat & Usher Malik Nadeem Kamran, MPA Mansha Ullah Butt, Sami Ullah Khan and concerned officials from Chief Minister's Secretariat, whereas Advisor on Health Kh Salman Rafique, Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning & Development and concerned secretaries participated in the conference from civil secretariat through video link.