Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has thanked Almighty Allah for the completion of 2nd year of PTI government in Punjab adding that third parliamentary year is also being started. The PTI government has started taking solid steps to fulfil the promises made with the people. Some projects are completed while work is in progress on others speedily. The political and geographical importance of Punjab province is established and the level of public expectations is very high because they have materialized the dream of a genuine public government after a lapse of many years through the people and the PTI government is working hard to materialise their dreams. He was addressing the ceremony held at 90-SQA with regard to Punjab government’s two years performance. The CM stated that he was surprised to know at the outset that meetings of the Board of Governors of some departments were not held even after the passing of years. Despite difficult challenges, we presented a progressive and pro-business budget and it was not possible to present a better budget than it in these circumstances, he said. Taxes were enhanced in budget every year but we abolished taxes in a new financial year or reduced their ratio. We identified our financial way forward. Trade and industry and health sectors are affected due to corona and 106 billion rupees were allocated for it in the new financial year. This includes 56 billion tax relief and direct expenditures worth 50 billion. Despite difficult circumstances, an additional 5 billion rupees were provided for development projects, he added. Share of local governments was enhanced to 10 per cent and frozen local government funds were also restored. The school education budget has been increased to 382 billion rupees. The government is committed to set up a university in every district and seven universities are being set up. The government is giving full attention to human resource development and it is also committed to creating job opportunities by promoting the construction industry. Financial transparency and merit in administrative matters is our target and Ehsaas Kafalat Program is a unique initiative to alleviate poverty. He said that establishment of southern Punjab secretariat was part of PTI manifesto and the promise has been fulfilled. Additional Chief Secretary and Additional IG have been appointed besides posting secretaries for departments and 33 per cent development funds have been allocated for southern Punjab. He said that Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project is the largest mega project in the country and its utility cannot be denied. This project will economically boost Pakistan. He said that work has been started on 13 special economic zones and the federal government has issued notification for six SEZs. Notification of 7 zones will be issued soon and the historic package has been given for the construction industry’s development. Meanwhile, changes have been introduced in LDA by-laws and construction of high-rise buildings has been allowed. He said that work is in progress on Naya Pakistan Housing Program and clean water project is being started with two billion rupees under Aab Pak Authority. Ease of doing business has been arranged for investors. One window cell and E-khidmat centres have been established. 20 billion rupees are earmarked for soft loans under PSIC. The government is providing training to one lac students every year under TEVTA and around 2200 kilometre roads are constructed in villages under Naya Pakistan Manzalain Asaan Program. This scheme will be continued this year and development projects will be formulated in consultation with public representatives after the restoration of local governments’ funds. He said that the new local government act has been approved and promulgated. Now local government heads will be elected directly. The CM stated that small farmers are being given loans through e-credit scheme and work is continued to introduce new seeds for more productivity. 1.25 billion rupees were allocated to overcome locust attack which was a big threat and it is eliminated over an area of more than 8 lac hectares. The government has launched construction of Jalalpur and Greater Thal Canal systems to irrigate around 8 lac acre land. The study is being conducted for the construction of 4 small dams in Koh-e-Suleman area and upgradation of Khanki Barrage, Jinnah Barrage, Punjnad and other barrages is completed. Meanwhile, work on upgradation of Upper Jhelum Canal and DG Khan Canal is in progress which would revolunarise the irrigation system. He said that 43 lac tons wheat has been purchased and 99 per cent payments were made to sugarcane farmers. The cabinet has approved amendments in sugarcane act and mills will be fined up to 5 million for non-payment to farmers. Sehat Insaf Card Scheme has been introduced in all the districts which will benefit 70 lac families and 3.5 crore needy people. He said that 30 thousand merit-based recruitments have been made in the health sector and 6 new hospitals comprising of 3500 beds are being constructed in different districts. The government has enhanced 12000 beds in hospitals and the construction and expansion of different hospitals are in progress in different districts. Meanwhile, first bone marrow transplant centre is being set up in Bahawalpur and the 600-bed hospital is being set up in Lahore. Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology has been completed and Haseeb Shaheed Hospital has been completed in Faisalabad. Special allowance has been approved for engineers along with doctors and new service structure is being designed for nurses. The corona test facility has been increased to 17 thousand daily and a historic decision has been made to make Urdu as a medium of instruction in primary level and teaching of English as a subject. The e-transfer policy for teachers has yielded positive results and Insaf Afternoon Schools have been set up in 22 districts. He said that 1272 schools have been upgraded without spending a penny. Seven universities are being set up and 4500 CTIs’ recruitments have been completed. New teachers will be recruited on the pattern of CTIs and 130 meetings of the cabinet and cabinet standing committees have been held and decisions were made on 1929 agenda items.
He said that Punjab Assembly during its two year tenure has approved 58 bills of public welfare and issued 25 new ordinances. Punjab Assembly passed 38 basic laws. He said that Punjab Assembly has made more legislation as compared to other provincial assemblies. 10 thousand new recruitments in Punjab police have been approved. 550 new vehicles have been purchased for the police department. 45 new police stations are being constructed whereas land for 101 police stations has been identified. Cabinet has approved executive allowance for the police department. Scope of model police stations are being extended. Similarly, under Rescue 1122, scope of motorcycle ambulance service will be extended to all districts of the province. Services of rescue 1122 are been taken at tehsil level. He said that it is PTI government which realise and has given a service structure for the employees of rescue 1122 after 15 years. 92 shelter homes have been constructed in all major cities of the province including Lahore. Panahgah Authority will be established, he added. 10 more shelter homes will be established in Lahore in the rental buildings. 137 day care centres have been established for facilitating the working women throughout the province. Usman Buzdar said that revolutionary measures have been taken for bringing reforms in jail sector. Usman Buzdar said that he personally visited 8 jails of different cities and inspected the condition of the prisoners. Punjab government has paid fines of 28 crore rupees and got released 1000 prisoners. He said that reforms are being introduced in 167 years old jail manual. Prisoners will get relief after implementing parole and probation act. Work is being carried out on different 1300 under completion developmental project. Usman Buzdar further stated that he made visits to Balochistan for promoting inter-provincial harmony and announced developmental projects worth billion of rupees in Turbat, Taftaan and Makraan. He said a hospital will also be set up in Turbat. He said that work is being carried out on the projects of alternative energy sources to get rid of expensive electricity and energy crisis. Work on off-grid solution in Cholistan and Thal is under process. Project of clean and green Pakistan is being carried out successfully. He said that 20-kg flour bag is being sold at the rate of Rs 860 in Punjab. Scope of double decker buses will be extended for promoting tourism in the province. Punjab Public Private Partnership Authority has been established and 28 development projects of worth Rs 144 billion have been approved. A time bar of three to four months will be fixed for starting PPP projects. Foundation stone of construction of Rawalpindi Ring Road, Nullah Lai Express Way, SL-III Ring Road, Sheikhupura-Gujranwala Road will soon be laid. Land Record System is being made easier. 20 Mobile vans have been purchased. Number of Land Record Centres is also being increased. He said that first underground water tank has been constructed to store rainy water in Lahore. Underground water sewage system will be extended gradually in divisions and later at district level. Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project will be started by October. He said that PTI government did not stop work on this project. Subsidy has to be given on this project. He said that 13 national parks have been established in Punjab. Solid Waste Management Authority has been established in Dera Ghazi Khan as well. Soon this authority will be made active in other divisions as well. He said that best cleanliness arrangements were made on Eid-ul-Azha. Reforms are being introduced for making cooperative Bank more effective for which a chairman has been appointed. He said that a comprehensive plan has been evolved by Auqaf Department for the renovation of shrines of religious personalities throughout the province. He said that state land worth billions of rupees got vacated from the qabza mafia. He said that government wants universal coverage of Sehat Insaf Card in Punjab like KPK. On the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Punjab government wants to provide Sehat Insaf Card to every citizen of Punjab under phase wise program. The Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar also answered the questions of senior columnists, journalists and anchorpersons. In response to a question, Usman Buzdar said that prices of essential commodities are far less than other provinces and most of the edibles are available on the government fixed price. Usman Buzdar said that he personally inspected the prices of essential items on regular basis and issued instructions. Price control authority is being established to cope with price-hiking in Punjab on permanent basis. In response to another question, he replied that boarding and lodging facilities to thousands of people have been provided on daily basis and almonries are being set up besides shelter homes. New courses of technical vocational training have been introduced for generating job opportunities in the province. Poor people is a centre point of our policies. PTI government is struggling for their welfare and betterment. He said that creating ease in the lives of common man is obligation and responsibility of PTI government. Answering another question, Usman Buzdar said that he personally come into field for solving the problems of Lahore. He said I knew every problem of Lahore. He said that 57 point agenda will be implemented for solving civic problems. He said that 2200 wardens are being recruited in Lahore. There is a need to set traffic system on right pattern. He said that traffic management system harmonized with latest demands would be introduced in Lahore. A comprehensive campaign will be run for eradicating the encroachments from the city. Action will be taken against those who sell birds after catching them. Ravi River Urban Development Project will prove to be a game changer. Trees would be planted in Lahore on larger scale. Work on urban forest station in the city has been started. Replying to another question, Usman Buzdar said that he present before NAB when he receive notice and he is ready to present before NAB once again if someone shows him copy of second notice. Provincial Minister for Finance Hashim Jawan Bakht gave a detailed review of two years performance of Punjab government. Provincial Minister for Information Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan expressed views on the major success of Punjab government. Provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, chief secretary, IG Police, secretaries and other rank officers were also present on this occasion.