Punjab approves billions for uplift projects

LAHORE: The government of Punjab released funds to the tune of billions of rupees for different uplift schemes, including water, sanitation, road construction and education, across the province on Friday.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar chaired the meeting of the Cabinet Standing Committee for Finance to decide about the release of funds to development projects.
The meeting was told that 6 metallic roads projects will be completed at a cost of Rs190million in Lahore. The meeting, in principle, approved to develop four model graveyards in Lahore through Shehr-e-Khamoshan Authority.
Approval of water supply schemes was also granted for Chichawatni and Harappa. Both the projects were announced by the chief minister during his Sahiwal visit. It was decided to build a modern bus stand in Mianwali, while the sewerage and drainage project in the bus stand will be completed with a cost of Rs130 million. Four development projects were approved for Mianwali city along with the approval of five roads construction schemes.
The CM approved funds for the upgradation of THQ hospital Minchinabad with a cost of Rs370 million. Expansion in the premises of Khawaja Ghulam Fareed mausoleum at Kot Mithan was approved and a boundary wall and marble floor will be constructed there.
Different schemes of provision of water for drinking and irrigation purposes under the Koh-e-Suleman Development Authority were also approved. The meeting was told that numerous projects will be completed with an amount of Rs5.71 billion under the Koh-e-Suleman Improvement Project. Bridge and the metallic road will be constructed at Sanghar Nullah and Rs39.7 million will be spent to complete the water supply scheme at Sakhi Sarwar.
The meeting also approved Rs500 million each for Baba Farid University Pakpattan, Koh-e-Suleman University, Rajanpur, and University of Hafizabad.
In principle approval was accorded to give 8,000 laptops to rural markaz-e-maal while the CM directed to give 2,200 laptops to backward areas’ colleges. The meeting further approved giving the status of associate colleges to five colleges.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Buzdar met with the bereaved heirs of martyred police constables Muhammad Afzal and Muhammad Imran at Police Lines Qila Gujjar Singh and extended sympathies to them.
The CM offered Fateha for the departed souls and sympathised with the bereaved families. He announced to provide employment and education to the children of the martyrs and the shaheed package will also be given to the martyrs’ families. The CM directed the IG to complete formalities for hiring Hafza Afzal, the MSc Chemistry graduate daughter of martyred constable Muhammad Afzal. He also consoled Naziran Bibi, mother of Muhammad Imran, and said that “every police official is your son” and further assured the heirs that the Punjab government will extend full support to them.
Later, the CM visited Jinnah Hospital to inquire after the injured police officials. He presented flowers to the injured officials and directed to provide the best medical facilities to constable Rizwan Ali who is almost paralysed due to the torture of the protesters. “Every effort should be made for the treatment of Rizwan Ali as I want to see him standing on his feet,” the CM directed.
He also inquired after injured constables Muhammad Amin, Muhammad Farooq and Hakim Ali. Hakim Ali thanked the CM and vowed to return to his job for protecting the life and property of the people. The CM appreciated the sacrifices and passion of police officials adding that the nation salutes them.
The police martyrs package will be further honed, he added. The treatment of the injured will be fully monitored, and the best healthcare facilities will be provided, he said. Punjab remained peaceful today and the Jumma prayer was offered peacefully due to the sacrifices of the police. The valour and commitment of police are praiseworthy, he further said.