Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said elected representatives should come forward and play an active role for the achievement of the development targets of the next fiscal year and ensure timely and transparent completion of uplift projects in their respective areas.
He said that the Punjab government has decided to release the funds allocated for development projects in two instead of four instalments during next financial year for ensuring timely completion of uplift schemes. He said that the new budget of Punjab is balanced and aimed at provision of basic amenities to the people and prosperity of deprived segments of the society. He said that besides generation of large-scale job opportunities for the youth, a comprehensive strategy has also been adopted for bringing women into national mainstream.
The chief minister said that service to the people is the mission of Pakistan Muslim League-N government and all out resources are being utilised for this purpose. He said that 65 percent of the funds would be spent on the development of rural areas during next financial year. He said that 32 percent of the development budget is being allocated for South Punjab. He said that Rs 10 billion were allocated in the next budget for the supply of potable water to people and this amount will be utilised on the improvement of water supply and drainage system in rural and urban areas. He said that 55 percent funds allocated for this purpose will be spent in rural areas. Similarly, he said, a new project of water supply is being started in the province under which water filtration plants will be set up and an amount of Rs two billion has been earmarked for this purpose.
He said that unemployment is a serious issue, which is mainly affecting the youth. He said that youth bellow 25 years of age comprise 60 percent of the total population of the country. He said that the Punjab government has evolved an effective, comprehensive and result-oriented strategy to deal with the issue of unemployment and to provide opportunities to the educated and skilled youth to stand on their own feet and become useful member of the society.
He said that billions of rupees have been allocated towards this end in the new budget. He said that 20 thousand yellow cabs will be distributed during next financial year and an amount of Rs 4.50 billion has been allocated for this purpose.
The chief minister further said that provision of modern medical facilities to the masses is also among the priorities of the government and provision of free medicines will continue during next financial year as well and a sum of Rs 5.50 billion has been allocated for this purpose. He said that mobile hospital system has been introduced for providing modern treatment facilities to the people of backward and remote areas and six mobile hospitals have started operating in south Punjab during the current fiscal year. He said that around 300 to 400 patients are benefiting from each hospital everyday. He said that 50 more mobile health units would be imported next year for providing quality health facilities in each Tehsil of the province.
He said that the Punjab government was implementing a comprehensive programme for development of education sector in the province and revolutionary measures have been taken during current fiscal year in this regard. He said that 0.1 million laptops will be gifted to talented students showing for their encouragement during next financial year. He said that 50 percent population of the country comprises women and it is a fact that no society can progress without active participation of women in all sectors of life. He said that projects costing Rs 13 billion have been included in the new budget for the welfare of womenfolk. He said that new universities for women would be set up in Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan and Bahawalpur for providing opportunities of higher education to women.
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