LAHORe: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has approved Multan Development Package worth billions of rupees. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi thanked him for approving this package and added that Usman Buzdar has won the hearts of people. MNA Amir Dogar said it is their luck that a person like Usman Buzdar is the chief minister of the province.
Assembly members from Multan called on chief minister Usman Buzdar at his office here on Monday. While talking to MNAs and PMAs from Multan, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said that Multan is his second home and he has a deep-rooted attachment with this city. I am the custodian of rights of every backward area, including Multan, and implementation on this package will be personally monitored by me, he said.
Problems like sewerage and clean drinking water in Multan will also be resolved and water filtration plants will be installed in the constituencies of assembly members. He told said a project of establishing mother and child hospital will also be presented before the cabinet for approval. Along with it, the P&D department will identify development priorities after reviewing the development package. He said that assembly members will be consulted for the identification of development projects of the next annual development programme of the financial year 2020-21.
Relevant secretaries will also attend these meetings, he added. The chief minister said that funds allocated for Multan during the current financial year will be provided on a priority and an announcement will be made after reviewing big city allowance for Multan and all other divisional headquarters. The government will also start new projects for improving health and educational facilities in Multan, he said. The chief minister said that steps will be taken for repair and maintenance of roads to meet the requirements of Multan city and the federal government will also be approached for the establishment of a special economic zone in Multan.
The government will also take immediate steps to complete northern and southern bypasses, he added. He said that dualization of Multan-Vehari Road project will be started through public-private partnership and necessary steps will also be taken to solve traffic problems of Multan city. He said that development projects are being formulated in consultation with assembly members in Punjab for the first time, adding that fundamental problems of people will be solved by the completion of development projects under Punjab Municipal Service Programme. Usman Buzdar said that funds allocated for southern Punjab cannot be reallocated after geofencing and added that he will strive to give rights to the cities that remained neglected for years.
During the meeting, Multan development package, progress on ongoing development schemes and ADP schemes of next financial year came under discussion. The parliamentarians presented their proposals. Those who called on the chief minister included Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, MNAs Malik Muhammad Amir Dogar, Ahmad Hussain Dharr, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Provincial Minister Dr Muhammad Akhtar Malik, MPAs including Javed Akhtar, Muhammad Saleem Akhtar, Nawabzada Waseem Khan,
Zaheer-ud-Din Khan Alizai, Muhammad Nadeem Qureshi, Malik Wasif Mazhar, Mian Tariq Abdullah and Qasim Abbas Khan, Secretary Finance, Secretary Primary & Secondary Healthcare, Secretary Local Government, Secretary P&D, and Commissioner and DC Multan. Commissioner Multan Division gave a briefing on development schemes under the development package.
