CM meets the members of the parliament

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that controlling of problems like energy crisis, terrorism, extremism and sectarianism is essential for rapid development of the country. He said that Pakistan Muslim League-N government is taking effective steps for elimination of energy crisis and terrorism and positive results are being witnessed.

He was talking to elected representatives of various districts who met him, here today. Speaking on the occasion, Shahbaz Sharif said that besides coping with terrorism, the government is also paying attention to development of education, health and other social sectors. He said that government has adopted a solid strategy to promote education and Punjab Higher Education Commission has been established in the province for the promotion of higher education.

The Chief Minister said that billions of rupees are being spent on provision of missing facilities in schools. He said that Daanish schools have been established in backward districts of the province especially South Punjab where even better educational facilities than Aitchison College are being provided to the children of low-income segments.

He said that trade, economic and industrial activities are increasing due to solid economic policies of the government and confidence of foreign investors has restored. He further stated that development projects are being completed with speed and transparency while a high standard is also being maintained. He said that the goal of progress and prosperity will be realized through hard work and commitment.

Similarly, talented children of poor families have been provided opportunities to move forward in the academic field through Punjab Educational Endowment Fund. He said that the total volume of Punjab Educational Endowment Fund has increased up to Rs.12 billion and scholarships are being given from its income to more than 65000 poor but brilliant students to study at prestigious educational institutions.

Referring to provision of public health facilities, the Chief Minister said that like education, health sector is also of vital importance and development of this sector is among the priorities of the government. He said that reforms are being introduced in health sector with the cooperation of British Department for International Development (DFID). He said that special attention is also being paid to mother and child health under Mother & Child Healthcare Programme.

He said that modern training is being imparted to health workers on the pattern of teachers training programme. He said that mobile health unit project has been highly successful in providing modern treatment facilities to the people of far-flung areas. He said that latest healthcare facilities are being extended to the patients in the state-of-the-art Tayyip Erdogan Hospital set up in district Muzaffargarh of South Punjab with the cooperation of Turkey and people of remote areas are also benefiting from this hospital.

Shahbaz Sharif said that a corruption-free culture has been promoted in Punjab and all development projects are being completed speedily and transparently while a high standard is also being maintained. He said that transparency, speed and standard are the hallmark of the projects of Punjab government and it is completely free from corruption.

Elected representatives appreciated the public-welfare projects of Punjab government led by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and said that people are fully benefiting from welfare-oriented measures of the government.