Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that bringing marked improvement in living standard of the people of impecunious strata is an important agenda of Pakistan Muslim League-N government. While talking to elected representatives of Southern Punjab, Shahbaz maintained that steps have been taken, to develop the deprived and far-flung areas by implementing composite development strategy.
Development program worth Rs 635 billion, which is the biggest program in the history of the province would usher in stable economic development, he said, adding: "Uplift of less developed and deprived areas is part of governmental priorities and ample resources are being utilized for the development and prosperity of deprived areas under the ADP."
He said that rulers from the Southern Punjab came into power in the past but nothing was done to overcome the backwardness of the area.
He said that credit goes to the PML-N that it has given special importance to the development of Southern Punjab. Mega projects worth billions of rupees have been completed in Southern Punjab and work on many other projects is in progress, he added. A mega project of provision of clean drinking water is also being started from Southern Punjab while thousands of kilometers long rural roads have been constructed under Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Program, he added. He said that monthly stipend of girls studying in public sector schools of Southern Punjab has also been increased.
He claimed that quality educational institutions, universities and hospitals have been established in Southern Punjab. "Resources are a sacred trust of the nation and every penny is being utilized for the welfare of people with utmost honesty," he said.