Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Tuesday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 81 development schemes worth Rs9 billion at Serena Hotel Faisalabad.
The CM inaugurated the Child Protection Institute, completed with an amount of Rs210 million. He then inaugurated Cricket Stadium Tandlianwala and the upgradation of RHC Khurianwala at Serena Hotel. Rs200 million had been spent on upgrading the 60-bed RHC, while the cricket stadium was constructed with Rs75 million. The CM laid the foundation stone of 78 development schemes valued at Rs8.16 billion.
While talking to the media, the CM said 10 road repair projects of 145 km would be completed and Rs3.58 billion would be spent on repair and maintenance of Jhang Road Model Bazaar. He said 19 clean water and drainage schemes would be completed with Rs4 billion, adding that Rs115 million would be spent on the repair of 15 civil dispensaries and Rs160 million on 25 educational schemes.
Buzdar said that five roads would be repaired with Rs300 million under RAP Phase 2, while 2,362 development projects of Rs105.42 billion would be completed in Faisalabad, he said. He added that 472 development schemes under ADP would be completed with Rs88 billion and Rs 3.70 billion would be spent on 402 community development schemes.
The chief minister further revealed that 828 development schemes under SAP would be completed with a cost of Rs3.20 billion, while Rs 850 million would be spent on 51 development schemes under sugarcane development cess. He said Rs1.20 billion would be spent on 441 schemes under the Punjab municipal services programme and 610 projects under local government ADP 2020-21 would be completed with an amount of Rs2.7 billion. Meanwhile, Rs1.39 billion were being spent on four ongoing specialised healthcare schemes and four water supply and drainage projects, which would be completed in partnership with French AFD, he added.
The CM said 100km Faisalabad ring road would be revamped with Rs7 billion and a new transport system would also be introduced. The phase of the district development package would be started and additional amount of 7 billion rupees would be given to complete on-going schemes.
The CM said 3,217 acre Special Economic Zones was being developed in Faisalabad under CPEC where more than 50 Chinese companies have invested. The number would rise to 150 next year, he added.
Faisalabad has a relationship of love with PM Imran Khan and this would be further strengthened, he said, and vowed that efforts would be made to develop Faisalabad as a model city. To a question, he responded that new districts and tehsils were being carved out to bring improvement in administrative matters. When the government came into power, there was no money and the government was in debt, he said, and maintained that the whole world was facing price-hike due to the Corona pandemic.
A comprehensive package was being chalked out to provide relief, the CM disclosed and pointed out that 700 billion rupees development budget was the biggest one in provincial history and the ratio of utilisation of development funds was also satisfactory.
Responding to a question, he said the government was focusing to improve the health sector adding that there was no shortage of medicines. To another question, the CM said the government intends to hold local bodies elections.
“The act will be presented before the assembly and after its approval, the government would move forward towards holding local bodies elections. On the orders of the Supreme Court, not only local bodies have been restored but were also being facilitated,” he said and pointed out that the government’s job was to solve problems and remove hurdles. To a question about change of Balochistan government, he said in a democracy, one could elect its own representatives. In case of any such move in Punjab we would handle it, he added.
Earlier, the Punjab chief minister visited Child Protection Institute and inspected the facilities being provided to orphans. He expressed satisfaction over the arrangements. He also inaugurated a state-of-the-art computer lab. He met with children residing in the institute and showed affection with them. The chief minister interacted with the children and distributed gifts among them besides cutting a cake with the children. The children presented handmade cards to the CM and he thanked the children and also made snaps with them. Usman Buzdar handed over a child girl residing in the institute to her parents to the gratitude of the family.
While speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said Child Protection Institute was providing the best services by giving education and building character of the orphans. He added that its scope would be increased at the district level and resources would be provided for the education of the orphans.
Chairperson Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Sara Ahmad briefed the CM on the performance of the institution. Later on, the chief minister presided over a high-level meeting at Serena Hotel. The meeting reviewed the pace of work on the development projects being executed in Faisalabad. The CM was also apprised of the measures taken to control price hike. He directed the authorities concerned to expedite the work on development schemes and ordered to launch a crackdown against illegal profiteers and hoarders. The CM said those responsible for causing artificial price hike would be sent to jails and directed that all-out efforts be made for providing relief to the general public. He also ordered the initiation of action against the artificial price-hike elements.
The CM directed the administration and elected representatives to take collective measures for controlling the price-hike. He said, “We are fully aware of the difficulties of the general public and to provide relief to the people is our collective responsibility.”
No compromise would be made on the standard of development projects and elected representatives would monitor the development schemes, he added. The chief minister said that no hindrance would be tolerated regarding valid matters of elected representatives.
