Terming the 'Ehsaas Programme' as a valuable vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar on Friday said this Programme is a giant leap towards poverty alleviation and the establishment of a welfare state.

While addressing the inaugural ceremony of distribution of assets in deserving persons under 'Mera Karobar Meri Amdni' of Ehsaas Programme in Layyah, the chief minister announced to grant the status of tehsil to Chowk Sarwar Shaheed area of Muzaffargarh. He also announced to launch the Ehsaas Programme in Punjab with an amount of Rs 12 billion which will directly benefit 1.8 million needy people and 6.4 million people will be indirectly benefitted.

Giving assets to 260 needy persons has been started in 22 rural union councils of Layyah and the deserving persons will also be given retail shops' material, rickshaws and pushcarts for earning their livelihood, he added. Similarly, the deserving rural population will be given cows and goats and needy females of rural areas have also been included in this beneficial programme.

Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar chaired an important meeting at Circuit House Layyah, to review law and order situation as well as progress made on development schemes.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister informed that Rs 18.77 billion were being spent on 2,284 public welfare scheme in the district and vowed to include Layyah district in the overall development process. No compromise will be made on the quality of development projects as I am visiting different areas to personally monitor the progress being on the development projects, he added.

The CM announced to establish industrial estate in Chaubara and directed to take prompt steps in this regard. The development work will be done in consultation with the assembly members and Layyah and Taunsa will be connected with the motorway. The construction work of forensic lab in DG Khan will be completed soon, while the DPS School will be established in Layyah, he added.

The chief minister announced to upgrade the sub-campus of Bahauddin Zakariya University in Layyah and informed the participants that work is in progress to establish a university in every district.

The CM Usman Buzdar also paid a surprise visit to tribal areas of Mubarki and Mat Chandia in Koh-e-Sulayman DG Khan. The chief minister said that a tourist-resort is being developed in Mubarki while Koh-eSulayman will be developed as a tourist spot.