New budget will improve the living standard of the people: Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that provision of relief to the people and improving their standard of living is the agenda of Pakistan Muslim League-N government.

He said that provincial budget of next financial year will be reflective of public aspirations. He said that huge resources will be allocated in the provincial budget for the projects aimed at provision of basic amenities to the people. He said that maximum funds will be allocated for the welfare programmes of the poor and deprived segments of the society. He said that full attention will be paid to the welfare of the common man in the new budget.

He was presiding over a high level meeting here today which reviewed in detail budgetary proposals for 2014-15. Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that such steps would be taken in the new budget which will improve the living standard of the down trodden people. He said that an effective strategy would be evolved for the improvement of education, health, agriculture, livestock, industry and other sectors. He said that revenue can be increased by removing flaws in the tax recovery system.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab government is going to introduce comprehensive and effective reforms in tax recovery system. He directed that all concerned departments should fix target of tax recovery and evolve an effective mechanism for this purpose. He said that development of backward areas is one of the priorities of PML-N government and development projects of billions of rupees are being completed for removing sense of deprivation of the people of these areas. He directed that maximum resources should be allocated for the uplift of far-flung and backward areas in the budget of next financial year.

Shahbaz Sharif said that service to the masses and welfare of the people is the manifesto of PML-N and it is vigorously implementing an effective strategy for the prosperity of the people.

The Chief Minister said that he is serving the people of the province with honesty and sincerity for the last six years. He said that people are benefitting from the mega projects completed throughout Punjab during this period. He said that implementation of big public welfare projects will also continue in future.

He said that problems like poverty and unemployment can be overcome through promotion of investment.  He said that foreign investment of billions of rupees is being made in the province due to effective and investment-friendly policies of Punjab government.

Secretary Finance gave a detailed briefing with regard to budget of next financial year. Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah Khan, Bilal Yasin, Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman, Ch. Shafique, Yawar Zaman, Rana Mashhood, Advisor on Health Kh. Salman Rafique, Advisor on Livestock Ch. Arshad Jatt, Assembly Members, Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning & Development, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Secretaries of various departments and concerned officials attended the meeting.