More funds for health, education in budget: CM

LAHORE

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said more funds compared to the past will be allocated for the provision of facilities in education, health and other social sectors.

Addressing a four-hour long video conference from London on Monday to review forthcoming budget and salient features of Annual Development Programme, the chief minister said that speedy development of the province and provision of basic amenities to the people was top priority of the government. He said that like previous years, public welfare programmes worth billions of rupees would be continued in future as well. He said more funds compared to the past would be allocated for the provision of facilities in education, health and other social sectors.

He said that billions of rupees would be spent for the welfare of people during next financial year and special attention would be paid to the development of rural and backward areas and project of provision of clean drinking water to the citizens would be completed speedily. He said every step of the government was directed towards prosperity of the people and development of the province. He said that development work with transparency, standard and speed was the hallmark of the Punjab government. He said the government was custodian of every penny of public and all resources were being utilised for the public welfare whereas billions of rupees saved in development projects were also being spent on public welfare projects.

The chief minister ordered the officers concerned that Annual Development Programme should reflect public aspirations and ensure provision of basic amenities to the people at their doorstep. He said that such development projects should be completed on priority basis during next fiscal year as could benefit maximum people as bringing improvement in the living standard of people was the priority of the government. He directed that ongoing public welfare schemes should be completed on priority basis so that people could be provided relief. 

He said that timely completion of public welfare schemes was utmost necessary; so special measures would be taken in the next budget for the development of education and health sectors and provision of basic amenities to the citizens. He said that austerity policy and reduction in non-development expenditure would be continued in future as well.

Shahbaz Sharif said that energy projects would be completed speedily due to which darkness would be removed from the country till 2018. He said the Punjab government had taken revolutionary steps for the empowerment of youths. He said thousands of youths had been made skillful through Skill Development Company and special steps would also be taken in the next budget for equipping lakhs of youths with vocational education.  The chief minister directed that due attention would be paid under Annual Development Programme for progress and prosperity of the masses and achievement of the targets for strengthening of economy.