Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme is of vital importance for promotion of rural economy and there is need for collective efforts to make this historic programme successful. He said a huge amount of 150 billion rupees would be spent during next three years on that big programme of construction and rehabilitation of rural roads.
He said that a target had been fixed to complete construction and rehabilitation work of all rural roads of the province till 2017-18 under that programme. He said benefits of investment of billions of rupees in rural areas should reach rural people at any cost, adding that that splendid programme of construction and rehabilitation of rural roads would result in availability of best means of communication to farmers and rural population and that programme would bring a revolution in rural life.
He expressed these views while addressing a meeting in Civil Secretariat through video link, here on Friday. The meeting reviewed the progress of 'Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme' and it was decided that in the next phase of that programme rural roads would be widened up to 16 feet.
The Chief Minister directed that a comprehensive roadmap should be presented regarding widening of roads, adding that besides construction and rehabilitation of roads, their maintenance was also necessary. The CM issued instructions for evolving a mechanism for checking overloading and said that an effective system with regard to road management should be evolved for that purpose. He said a high standard with regard to construction and rehabilitation of roads should be ensured, while modern technology would have to be utilised for that programme of construction and rehabilitation of roads.
He said construction companies should have modern construction equipment, adding there should not be any complaint of non-availability of construction material in any area. He said provision of quality material for the shoulders of the roads completed in the first phase should be ensured and the process of provision of quality construction material should be monitored.
He said tree plantation was an important part of the programme of construction and rehabilitation of roads, therefore, maximum trees should be planted along the newly-constructed and rehabilitated rural roads. Members Provincial Assembly while expressing their views said that rural people were very happy with Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme and that programme had won the hearts of rural people. They said that glorious programme of construction and rehabilitation of rural roads would play an important role in changing the living style of rural people.
Secretary Communication & Works gave a briefing regarding progress on Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme. Provincial Ministers Tanvir Aslam Malik, Malik Nadeem Kamran, Dr Farrukh Javed, Senator Saood Majeed, Members National and Provincial Assemblies, Chairman Planning & Development, concerned secretaries and senior authorities attended the meeting from Civil Secretariat whereas concerned officers attended the meeting from Rawalpindi and Multan Commissioners Offices and DCO Office Rahim Yar Khan through video link.