Shahbaz Sharif visits Vehari and Burewala,inaugurates development projects

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that PML(N) government believes in balanced development and not only in cities but billions of rupees are also being spent on the development projects in villages. He said that with the completion of these projects, living standard of the rural people will improve and modern facilities will be available to them.

He expressed these views while addressing various functions during his visit to Vehari and Burewala, today.

The Chief Minister visited Vehari and Burewala for eight hours and inaugurated and laid foundation stone of development projects of billions of rupees. He inaugurated Burewala-Ludden Road constructed at a cost of Rs:50 crore at Chungi  No.5, Cardiac Ward costing four crore rupees at Tehsil Headquarters Hospital and 14 kilometer long two lanes road from Burewala to Chichawatni constructed at a cost of more than one billion rupees at Burewala.

Shahbaz Sharif laid foundation stone of Rescue 1122 project which will cost Rs.7.20 crore. A large number of people were gathered at the inauguration of development projects at Burewala.

Addressing the public gatherings on this occasion, the Chief Minister said that work on development projects is continuing speedily in the province but those staging sit-ins are creating hindrances in the development process but people will foil this sit-ins conspiracy. He said that people should beware of it. He said that China has given the historic economic package of 46 billion dollars in which investment of 20 billion dollars is only for energy projects. He said that the change is brought through practical work and not through slogans.

Shahbaz Sharif said that “pakkiyan sarkaan- sokhay painday” programme will bring a revolution in villages. He said everyone knows that in which province change is being made, where solar park is being established and where the biggest hostel is being constructed for female students in Pakistan. He said that sit-ins politics created lot of hindrances in development journey. He said that 18 crore people of the country will also reject sit-ins politics in future.

The Chief Minister said that the biggest 100 megawatt solar project has been inaugurated in Cholistan deserts. He said that due to sit-ins, this project was delayed temporarily. He said that now people have to face those people staging sit-ins so that they should not have opportunity of creating hindrance in development journey again. Shahbaz Sharif said that work will have to be carried out round the clock during next three years and Pakistan will be made a great country, darkness will be removed through lights. He said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, the excellent programme of construction and rehabilitation of rural roads with billions of rupees is continuing successfully under Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme. He said that a huge amount of 15 billion rupees is being spent on this programme during current financial year. He said that all rural roads will be completed at a cost of more than 150 billion rupees in Punjab upto 2018.

Members National Assembly Ch. Nazir Ahmed Arain, Syed Sajid Mehdi Saleem Shah, Ms. Tahmeena Daultana, Members Provincial Assembly Mian Irfan Daultana, Bilal Akbar Bhatti and Ch. Irshad Ahmed Arain were present on the occasion. The Chief Minister visited shrine of renowned saint Hazrat Baba Sher Dewan at Sahuka adjacent Burewala and laid wreath at the mazar. He offered special prayers for the security, peace, stability, development and prosperity of the country. He inaugurated Sheikh Din Muhammad Welfare Trust Hospital constructed for mental and psychiatric patients. Chairman of the hospital and prominent senior lawyer Muhammad Akram Sheikh was also present on the occasion.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Shahbaz Sharif said that setting up of Sheikh Din Muhammad Welfare Trust Hospital at Sahuka, the land of saint Hazrat Baba Sher Dewan, is in accordance with the teachings of religious saints, upon which, Sheikh Muhammad Akram deserves appreciation. He said that Sheikh Din Muhammad Welfare Trust Hospital is not less than a blessing for mentally retarded people of the area and Punjab government will extend all out cooperation to it.

The Chief Minister said that at present government is working on four big targets on priority basis which included health, education, provision of clean drinking water and elimination of energy crisis. He said that revolutionary reforms have been introduced by allocating additional budget of billions of rupees in health and education sector and citizens are getting fruit. He said that water filtration plants will soon be installed at tehsil level for providing clean drinking water through mega project so that rural people could benefit from potable water. He reiterated that the problem of clean drinking water will be resolved in three years and this project has been started from Bahawalpur.

Referring to energy crisis, Shahbaz Sharif said that the wheel of economy cannot be moved without resolving energy crisis and Prime Minister has inaugurated 100 megawatt solar project at Bahawalpur for this purpose. He said that the coal based energy projects will be completed by 2017 and the energy crisis will be overcome to a large extent through completion of energy projects with the cooperation of China in three years. He said that the nation which is not healthy and strong cannot make progress in the fields of life. He stressed upon the people to support the government in reconstruction of the country.

The Chief Minister said that government is upgrading rural and basic health centers with billions of rupees whereas vacancies of doctors and paramedical staff are also being filled in. He said that record funds have been allocated for the development of rural areas and solid measures have been taken for the uplift of health sector. He said that revolutionary changes will be brought in health sector. Chairman Sheikh Din Muhammad Welfare Trust Hospital & senior lawyer Supreme Court Sheikh Muhammad Akram also addressed the function.

Shahbaz Sharif also visited district headquarter hospital Vehari today and inaugurated cardiac center at the hospital. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that district headquarter hospital Vehari will be upgraded at a cost of 63 crore rupees due to which there will be increase of 300 beds. He said that kidney center has been constructed at a cost of eight crore rupees. Shahbaz Sharif while announcing setting up of blood transfusion center said that this project will cost Rs.4.5 crore. While expressing indignation over concerned officers on the occasion, he said why delay was caused in construction work of the hospital due to which construction expenses were increased. He directed Commissioner Multan Division to look into the matter and submit a report. Addressing the meeting of MNAs, MPAs, administrative and police officers, the Chief Minister announced a grant of 10 crore rupees for reconstruction of police stations in Vehari.

He also announced setting up of sub campus of Zakriya University Multan in Vehari and releasing funds of 10 crore rupees for reconstruction of police stations for making Vehari a model district with regard to law & order situation. He directed DPO Vehari to take immediate steps for eliminating “tout mafia” and bring change in thana culture so that Vehari should be made model district with regard to law & order. He said that police will have to play its due role for maintaining law & order and curbing crimes. He said that DPOs should hold meetings with member national and provincial assembly on monthly basis and ensure resolution of grievances of people and provision of justice. He said that quality should be given priority in development budget and projects be completed within stipulated period. He warned that no negligence and inefficiency will be tolerated in this regard.

Shahbaz Sharif directed DCO Vehari that the pace of construction work at Daanish School being constructed at Tibba Sultanpur should be accelerated so that modern educational facilities should soon be available to the male and female students.  He said that missing facilities should also be provided in other schools and the dilapidated buildings of the schools should be reconstructed. Mentioning rural roads project, the Chief Minister said that this project is of great importance. He said that for the first time in the history of the country, such a mega project for the repair and reconstruction of rural roads has been started which will cost 150 billion rupees. He said that nine rural roads will be rehabilitated at a cost of 55 crore rupees in Vehari this year. He said that the farmers will bring their crops to markets easily with the implementation of “pakkiyan sarkaan- sokhay painday” programme. He said that elected representatives should personally monitor the Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme.

The Chief Minister said that this is the revolutionary project for the development of rural economy and he is personally monitoring this project. Shahbaz Sharif while talking to media at Circuit House Vehari said that more steps are needed for the improvement of district headquarters hospital and he is not satisfied with the performance of the hospital. He said that media should also bring positive steps before the people and the elements creating hindrances in the development journey should be exposed. The Chief Minister said that no hindrance will be tolerated in the payment of fixed price of wheat to the farmers. He said that Punjab government has fixed 40 lakh ton wheat procurement target from the farmers of the province.

Replying to a question, Shahbaz Sharif said that there can be disagreement to the decision of Election Tribunal with regard to NA-125 but we respect judiciary. He said that clear majority of PML-N in local bodies elections of cantonment boards including Lahore and Rawalpindi is proof of our popularity. He said that billions of rupees are being spent for improving facilities in health, education and communication sectors.