Service to the people is a form of worship:CM Punjab

Lahore:Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan Muslim League-N considers service to the people as a form of worship and maximum resources are being utilized for the provision of modern facilities to the masses. He said that Aashiyana housing project is a splendid programme of providing shelter to labourers, cultivators, widows, orphans and hapless persons. He said that most modern residential facilities, at par with the housing societies of the elite, have been provided in Aashiyana housing schemes.

He said that modern infrastructure is of vital importance for the promotion of trade and economic activities besides rapid development and in view of this fact the government is spending billions of rupees on infrastructure development in the province. The Chief Minister said that the latest forensic lab of the world has been set up in the provincial metropolis and directed that the lab should be fully utilized for curbing crime and provision of prompt justice to the aggrieved.

He expressed these views during his visit to development projects and a briefing meeting regarding Punjab Forensic Science Agency in Thokar Niaz Beg, here today. Provincial Minister Ch. Abdul Ghafoor, Members National and Provincial Assembly, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, Home Secretary, Secretary Communication & Works, Commissioner and District Coordination Officer Lahore and senior officers of NLC and NESPAK were present on the occasion. The Chief Minister started the visit at 5 a.m in the morning and reviewed the pace of progress on development projects in various parts of the city for five hours. Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that raising the living standard of the people and bringing the deprived segments of the society into mainstream of development is the agenda of Punjab government and all out resources are being utilized for this purpose. He said that in addition to provincial metropolis work is speedily in progress on Aashiyana housing schemes in other districts of the province as well. He said that these schemes aimed at provision of shelter to the poor are an important step towards bridging the gulf between the rich and the poor as well as transforming the country in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. He said that in time and transparent completion of development projects is the top priority of the government and Kalma Chowk and Muslim Town Flyovers are shining examples in this regard. Reviewing pace of work on the roads adjacent to Muslim Town Flyover, the Chief Minister directed to complete the work expeditiously while flowers and sapling should also be planted for the beautification of the flyover. Inspecting construction work of Multan Road, the Chief Minister said that this project is extremely important, therefore, the work on the project should be accelerated for facilitating the citizens. Expressing his displeasure over suspension of work on Multan Road sewerage system project, he directed that this scheme should be completed simultaneously with the road. He directed that a proper plan should be devised for the sewerage system at Multan Road with the consultation of the experts so that no damage is caused to the road and the buildings. He also ordered to accelerate the work on the third section of Multan Road from Scheme More to Chowburji.

Addressing a briefing meeting on Punjab Forensic Science Agency, the Chief Minister said that the most modern forensic lab of the world has been constructed in the provincial metropolis at a cost of billions of rupees which will prove to be a milestone in the elimination of crime, improvement of criminal justice system, provision of justice to the people and investigation of heinous crimes on scientific lines. He said that besides Punjab, other provinces would also benefit from this unique and modern lab of South Asia. He said that the most modern facilities have been made available in the forensic lab which should be fully utilized for the provision of prompt justice to the people. He said that uninterrupted power supply to the lab is of paramount importance for the timely completion of reports therefore, Chief Secretary Punjab should contact Chairman WAPDA. Granting approval to the proposal of Director General Forensic Lab that the lab should operate five days a week, he directed that there should not be any delay in preparation of reports so that no negative impact is left on the process of justice.

Director General Forensic Lab Tahir Ashraf while giving a briefing regarding the performance of the lab, informed that 13 out of 14 laboratories are fully functional. He said that 30 scientists have got training in America and 23 in Australia for the lab. He said that besides training of 573 officers and staff of Punjab police, civil judges, prosecutors and officers of other departments have also been imparted training. The Chief Secretary informed that the entire staff of the lab has been recruited on merit. Secretary Communication & Works informed about the pace of work during the visit to development schemes. The Chief Minister also visited various sections of the forensic lab.