Lahore, October 27, 2021 (PPI-OT):Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 81 development schemes of 9 billion rupees at Serena Hotel Faisalabad during his 6-hour long visit. The CM inaugurated the child protection institute completed with an amount of 21 crore rupees. He then inaugurated Cricket Stadium Tandlianwala and the upgradation of RHC Khurianwala at Serena Hotel. Rs. 20 crores had been spent to upgrade the 60-bed RHC while the cricket stadium was constructed with 7.5 crore rupees. The CM laid the foundation stone of 78 development schemes valuing 8.16 billion rupees.

While talking to the media, the CM said 10 road repair projects of 145 KM would be completed with 3.40 billion and 18 crore rupees would be spent on repair and maintenance of Jhang Road Model Bazaar. 19 clean water and drainage schemes would be completed with 4 billion rupees, he added. 11.5 crore will be spent on the repair of 15 civil dispensaries and 16 crore rupees would be spent on 25 educational schemes, the CM added. 5 roads would be repaired with 30 crores under RAP phase 2. 2362 development projects of 105.42 billion would be completed in Faisalabad, he said and added that 472 development schemes under ADP would be completed with 88 billion rupees and 3.70 billion would be spent on 402 community development schemes, he added.

828 development schemes under SAP would be completed with a cost of 3.20 billion, he added and stated that 85 crore rupees would be spent on 51 development schemes under sugarcane development cess. 1.20 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 2.7 billion, the CM said. Meanwhile, 1.39 billion were being spent on 4 on-going specialized healthcare schemes and 4 water supply and drainage projects would be completed in partnership with French AFD, he added.

The CM said 100 KM long Faisalabad ring road would be revamped with 7 billion and 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 3217 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 developed Faisalabad as a model city.

To a question, he said 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 utilization of development funds was also satisfactory.

Responding to a question, he said the government was focusing to improve the health sector adding that there is 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 also being facilitated, he said and pointed out that the government’s job was to resolve problems and remove hurdles. To a question about change of Balochistan government, he said in democracy one can elect its own representatives. In case of any such move in Punjab we would handle it, he added.

Earlier, Chief Minister Punjab visited child protection institute and inspected the facilities being provided to orphans. CM expressed satisfaction over the arrangements. He also inaugurated a state-of-the-art computer lab. CM met with children residing in the institute and showed affection with them. 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 CM thanked the children and also made snaps with them. Usman Buzdar handed over a child girl residing in the institute to her parents.

The family expressed gratitude with the CM. While talking on the occasion, the chief minister said child protection institute was providing the best services by giving education and character building of the orphans and its scope would be increased at the distract level and resources would be provided for the education of the orphans. Chairperson Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Sara Ahmad briefed the CM regarding 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.

CM was also apprised about the measures taken to control the price-hike. CM directed to expedite the work on development schemes and ordered to launch a crackdown against illegal profiteers and hoarders. CM said those responsible for causing artificial price-hike would be sent to jails and directed to make all-out efforts for providing relief to the general public. He also directed to initiate action against the artificial price-hike elements. CM directed the administration and elected representatives to take collective measures for controlling the price-hike. CM 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 no hindrance would be tolerated regarding valid matters of elected representatives. Federal Minister for state Farrukh Habib, Provincial Ministers Hussain Jahanian Gardezi, Hashim Jawan Bakht, Ajmal Cheema, Hafiz Mumtaz Ahmad, Ch. Zaheer ud Din, SACM Hassan Khawar, parliamentarians, local administration, police and relevant officers were also present on this occasion.

For more information, contact:
Office of the Chief Minister of Punjab
Government of the Punjab
8-Club Road, GOR-I, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-99205562-3
Fax: +92-42-99205561
Website: https://cm.punjab.gov.pk/