Completion of development projects is the top priority:Zulifqar Khosa

Lahore: Senior Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa has said that timely completion of development projects is the top priority of the Punjab government and no compromise would be made on the quality and period of completion of the uplift schemes. He directed that schemes regarding permanent rehabilitation of the roads affected by the floods and construction of bridges in the affected areas should be sent to him. He said that priority should be given to the projects of desilting of the course of hill torrents, elimination of encroachments and saving of fertile land from erosion and development of backward areas should be kept in view while preparing schemes.

He expressed these views while presiding over DMC meeting at the office of Commissioner DG Khan which was also attended by Agriculture Minister Malik Ahmed Ali, Members National and Provincial Assembly, Commissioner DG Khan, DCOs of all the four districts and other concerned officers.

Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa said that spurs and protective bunds should be constructed in order to save the population living near rivers and hill torrents however, no private person should be allowed to start such activities for his personal benefit. He said that the banks of DG Khan Canal are being raised up to five feet and strengthened and suggestions of the experts would also be given due importance to prevent the people from flood devastation.

DCOs and concerned officers while giving briefing informed that 19 schemes have been completed under the package of Members National and Provincial Assembly in DG Khan while work is continuing on 225 projects at a cost of Rs. 87 crore, 80 lakh. Similarly, work is also in progress on 133 schemes of district government worth Rs.68 crore 30 lakh and 81 projects have been completed. Under Annual Development Programme,92 schemes are being executed at a cost of Rs. 19 billion 31 crore 30 lakh out of which 12 have been completed.

They said that Rs.9 billion 94 crore and 90 lakh have been spent out of allocated funds of Rs. 12 billion 37 crore 70 lakh. 46 schemes have been completed under Sugar Cess Development Fund and work is continuing on three while 49 crore twenty lakh rupees would be spent.