Punjab CM asks departments to ensure financial discipline

The Punjab chief minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Tuesday directed the provincial departments to strictly implement austerity measures and also ensure transparency in financial matters. "The government departments should maintain financial discipline," he said while chairing a meeting, which reviewed financial matters as well as progress made on annual development program (ADP).
In the meeting, the CM was given a briefing about the progress on the annual development program (ADP) and financial matters of the province, sources said.
Addressing the meeting, Sardar Usman said, "We are the custodian of national resources and no one will be allowed to make a dacoity on the hard-earned money of the people. The public needs as well as their welfare should be ensured in development schemes and the menace of enhancing the expenditures by delaying the completion of such schemes should be discouraged."
He said that timely utilization of development resources is important and the departments should ensure timely utilization of funds so that people could be fully benefited. He also directed that utilization of funds released for the development schemes should be used within the given timeframe.
Provincial ministers Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht, Malik Muhammad Anwar, Hafiz Faiz Ahmad, chief secretary, chairman planning & development department, SMBR, administrative secretaries and high officials attended the meeting.
In another meeting, the CM while reviewing performance and different matters pertaining to Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA), said that launch of 'Sehat Insaf Card' is an important step towards fulfilling the commitment of service to the people. He directed the PSPA that new programs aimed at welfare and rehabilitation of the indigent strata should be chalked out.
Moreover, the CM in his message on the eve of 'World Day of Social Justice', said that Holy Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) has given an immortal message of doing justice with all the humanity. "Provision of social justice to every citizen is a part of fundamental teachings of Islam. In fact, social justice carries important value in Islam," he added. Implementation of social justice principles in the society is also important so that Pakistan could get a respectable place in the comity of nations, he added.