Welfare of the masses is top priority of PML-N government:CM Punjab

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that welfare of the masses and provision of relief to them is top priority of PML-N government. That is why, Punjab government has evolved a revolutionary programme of targeted subsidy for providing relief to the poorest of the poor families in the province, he added. He said that under this programme, targeted subsidy would be provided to the poorest families and Punjab government would give Rs.1000 per month to those families living below the poverty line through Punjab Khidmat Programme. He said that targeted subsidy would be provided to 13 lakh families during current financial year and it will be implemented from January 2014.

He expressed these views while talking to the Members National Assembly of various districts who met him at Chief Minister’s Office here today. They included Dr. Hafeez ur Rehman Khan Dreshak, Muhammad Talal Chaudhary, Rai Mansab Ali, Ch. Khalid Javed Waraich and Jamil Hassan Khan.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that all possible resources are being utilized for lessening the economic burden and raising the living standard of deprived segments of the society. He said that Punjab government is pursuing a comprehensive strategy for providing relief to the poorest families. He said that health insurance scheme is being launched for providing quality health facilities to the poor people.

The Chief Minister said that initially health insurance scheme will be launched from Hafizabad, Chakwal, Rajanpur and Layyah and later its scope would be extended throughout the province under a phased programme. He said that Punjab government has decided to set up Punjab Rozgar Bank for providing jobs to youth. He said that soft term loans would be provided to the youth through Punjab Rozgar Bank for starting their business.

Shahbaz Sharif said that Educational Endowment Fund Programme with a sum of Rs.12 billion is continuing successfully in education sector and educational scholarships have been provided to more than 50 thousand talented but deserving male and female students. He said that now no student will remain deprived of education due to financial constraints as government is bearing the educational expenses. He said that Punjab government is holding sastay bazaars thrice a week throughout the province where essential items are being provided at cheaper rates than market and 20 kg flour bag at ex-mill rate. He said that due to governmental steps and holding of sastay bazaars, the prices of edible items have stabilized and effective monitoring of vegetable markets is also continuing in this regard.

The Chief Minister said that land record is being computerized at a cost of Rs.11 billion in 36 districts of the province through Land Record Information and Management System. He said that Land Record Information and Management System will be completed by 2014 in Punjab and after completion of this project, patwar culture will be eliminated and ownership deed (fard malkiat) will be available to common man within thirty minutes. Shahbaz Sharif said that PML-N government is working round the clock for coping with the energy crisis and expressed the hope that energy crisis will be overcome soon. He said that the work on the project of Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park at 11 thousand acres land is going on speedily in Bahawalpur. He expressed the hope that the local and foreign companies will invest more than 200 billion rupees in Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park.

The Chief Minister further said that assembly members along with administration should monitor the prices of essential items in bazaars and vegetable markets and play their due role for eradicating hoarding and profiteering. He said that assembly members should keep close liaison with the people and spare no effort in resolving their problems. Assembly members on the occasion apprised the Chief Minister of progress of development works in their respective areas.