World Bank Mission met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore : World Bank Mission met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, here today. Measures regarding urban development and improvement of civic facilities came under discussion during the meeting. World Bank assured provision of cooperation with regard to steps for improvement of cities of Punjab and their development.

Talking to World Bank Mission, the Chief Minister said that Punjab government is implementing a balanced policy for the development of urban and rural areas. He said that work is being carried out speedily on the development of different sectors at a cost of billions of rupees for improving facilities in cities and cooperation of World Bank for improvement of facilities in small and big cities as well as urban development will be welcomed.

He said that provision of best services to the citizens is our top priority and Punjab government has evolved a coordinated programme in this regard. He said that work is continuing on different projects of health, education, transport and infrastructure and completion of these projects will result in further improvement of services to the citizens.

Shahbaz Sharif said that a solid strategy is being implemented for providing better transport facility to the people and unprecedented steps have been taken in this regard. He said that after successful metro bus service in Lahore and Rawalpindi-Islamabad, its scope is being expanded. Metro bus project is near completion in Multan, a big district of south Punjab, he added.

He said that comfortable, economical and speedy transport facilities have been made available to the citizens through metro bus service. He said that first metro rail project of Pakistan is being executed in Lahore and this project is a revolutionary step towards provision of international standard transport facilities to the citizens.

The Chief Minister said that first phase of Safe City Project for safeguarding life and property of citizens has been completed in Lahore and this project will help eradicate crimes from the province. He said that Punjab government has decided to launch Punjab Safe City Project in six big cities of the province. He said that a mega project has also been evolved for providing potable water to the people under which provision of clean drinking water will be ensured to the masses.

He said that improvement of civic facilities is among our priorities and for this purpose, education, health, infrastructure and transport sectors are being improved through revolutionary steps. Citizens will benefit from all these projects and their living standard will be raised, he added.

Shehbaz Sharif said that cooperation of World Bank for urban development and improving facilities in small and big cities augers well. He said that World Bank should evolve a roadmap in this regard which will be speedily implemented.

Speaking on the occasion, Senior Director World Bank Group said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab government has taken a number of steps for improving civic amenities and urban progress. He said that better work has been carried out in infrastructure, transport and other sectors in Punjab as compared to several countries.

He said that all out cooperation will be extended to Punjab government for urban development and improving civic facilities.

World Bank Mission which met the Chief Minister includes Country Director in Pakistan Illango Patchamuthu, Senior Director World Bank Group for Social, Urban & Rural Ede Jorge Ijjasz-Vasques and Manager Urban Development for South Asia Ming Zhang. Provincial Minister Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Chief Secretary and Chairman Planning & Development were also present on the occasion.