Maryam satisfied as budget has ‘biggest’ uplift outlay

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has expressed satisfaction over presenting a tax-free budget with biggest development outlay.

“Neither new taxes were imposed nor their rates increased,” she said while expressing gratitude to Allah Almighty for presenting a tax-free budget with the biggest development program in the history of the province. She said: “We will eliminate the gap between development and facilities in cities and villages. Fruits of development will now reach every village and 1,800 villages will be made model villages. Besides the Lahore Development Program, the Punjab Development Project is also being brought in. Development will no longer see a difference between the rich and the poor. It will be rather equal for all. We have come with a spirit of serving the common man, may Allah Almighty grant us success.”

She said: “We are sincerely trying to fulfill the mission of welfare of the people of Punjab. We will fulfill promises made to farmers. More than Rs129 billion are being allocated for the purpose. Not thousands but millions of farmers will benefit from the Green Tractor Scheme.

Rs15.5 billion are being given for more tractors. The construction and expansion of more than 12,000 kilometers of roads will be a record. The Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital and Sargodha’s Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology will be completed this year. The Nawaz Sharif Medical District will be the first centre in Pakistan where all deadly diseases will be treated, and research will also be conducted.”

The chief minister said: “Students will be given meritorious scholarships and laptops. Children will not sit on floor in any school in Punjab. Rs40 billion are being given to provide them with all missing facilities. Layyah and Bhakkar along with other remote districts will be given access to the motorway, besides extending better communication links to Muzaffargarh and Mianwali. We will not let the children of labourers sleep hungry and will give Rs40 billion for their ration cards.”

Maryam Nawaz said in her message on the World Day to Combat Desertification & Drought: “Land is not an inheritance but a trust of future generations, its protection is our first and foremost duty. Cimate change, indiscriminate cutting of trees and water scarcity are rapidly affecting agricultural resources and soil fertility. Drought is not just a name of increasing layers of sand but is a precursor to a serious crisis. The Punjab government is fully aware of every challenge related to the environment.”