Senate panel calls for urgent development in Rajanpur

LAHORE: The Senate Secretariat Federal Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas (PLDA) Chairman, Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar, on Friday said the issues relating to the central government would be resolved by the committee.

He was talking to a delegation of the committee members, including Senator Gianchand, Senator Ayub Khan Afridi, Senator Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen and Senator Kalsoom Parveen, who visited the Planning and Development Complex, Lahore to discuss the future plans and remedial steps to redress the grievances of the people of less developed areas in Southern Punjab Districts.

Senator Usman Kakar said the committee would work to maintain equality of development amongst the all provinces of Pakistan. The committee chairman expressed reservations over lack of redressal to issues of less developed areas of the southern Punjab districts. He focused on important issues of the arrangements for flood management in Rajanpur. We should focus to prevent wastage of dam water. Electricity may be provided to 40 percent villages of Rajanpur. Both side roads of Sheikh Zayed Bridge may be constructed immediately, he observed. The senator mentioned that clean drinking water is not available there. Less developed areas will have Benazir Income Support and Health Cards for 100 percent females. Tourist point should be developed and vacant posts in different departments be filled up. Farmers’ welfare and reforms in policy be implemented in Lodhran. Besides, vocational centres should be established there, he added.

Planning and Development Chairman Habib-ur-Rehman Gilani briefed the committee on the uplift of Southern Punjab Districts Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Layyah and Lodhran. He said the Punjab government was committed to uplift the Southern Punjab and redress the grievances of the people of less developed areas by taking remedial steps.

New funding allocations would be made for starting of development projects in less developed areas in upcoming financial year 2019-20 as the previous government had not seriously focused on the southern Punjab uplift. All the public welfare projects would be the government priority. Employment opportunities would be generated for public of southern Punjab. The new Secretariat for Southern Punjab would be made functional soon. Under the direction of Punjab Chief Minister, necessary arrangements for water sports and tourist resorts are being given final touches, he concluded.