Punjab CM reviews affairs of Lahore Ring Road Authority

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting of the Lahore Ring Road Authority here Tuesday to review progress on projects relating to the Ring Road.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that Ring Road was a most-modern project for the people of Lahore as lakhs of citizens have been given an opportunity of travelling through this road. Due to it, load of traffic on city roads has been decreased as well.

The projects providing relief to the people are among the top priorities of the Punjab government, he added and directed that tree-plantation and beautification of Lahore Ring Road should be carried out consistently.

Commissioner Lahore Division/ Chairperson Lahore Ring Road Authority, FWO Officials and others attended the meeting. Also, at another meeting, Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif accorded approval to landscaping plan of Beijing Underpass. It also reviewed progress on landscaping plan and horticulture projects of Beijing Underpass and Ring Road Southern Loop.

The chief minister said that landscaping of the Beijing Underpass must be completed within two months by working day and night over it and therefore, the project should be expedited. He assured that no dearth of funds would ever hinder the project. He ordered for developing at state-of-the-art landscaping of Beijing Underpass as encroachments and hanging wires affect the city beauty. He said that a steering committee under the Lord Mayor Lahore should efficiently work for elimination of encroachments and fixing of hanging wires. He said that Punjab government has promoted the culture of horticulture in the province and development projects have been made attractive through dexterous use of horticulture.

The qualitative, speedy as well as transparent completion of development projects is our policy and the same strategy should be utilised for working on horticulture schemes. The CM said he meant business instead of showing any slackness, adding that beautification of cities should be speedily carried out through horticultural work.

Advisor to Chief Minister Khwaja Ahmad Hasaan, Lord Mayor Mubasher Javed, DG Lahore Walled City Authority, DG PHA, Commissioner Lahore Division and LESCO officials attended the meeting.

The Punjab CM said that there is no other priority important than serving the ailing humanity. That is why; Punjab government is carrying out a comprehensive programme of providing quality healthcare facilities to the people. Under this plan, billions of rupees are being spent for improvement of health sector as well as providing medical facilities to the people at their doorsteps. He said Pakistan Kidney and Liver Transplant Institute has been developed for the treatment of patients suffering from kidney and liver diseases. The deserving patients are getting free medical facilities in the PKLI, he added.

Meanwhile, talking to Malik Sultan Mehmood Hinjra, MNA, the CM said special attention is being paid to development of southern Punjab and mega projects have been completed by spending billions of rupees to benefit the people living there. He lamented that elements involved in the politics of mendacity and negativity have done nothing for the welfare of the public and instead of serving the masses; these elements have spent all of their time in negative politics. The elements involved in negative politics of allegation-levelling would not escape the accountability of voters in the next election, concluded the Chief Minister.

Also, talking to the newly-elected office-bearers of Lahore Press Club (LPC) here on Tuesday, Shahbaz said that problems being faced by the journalist community will be solved on merit within a week.

The CM expressed these views while. The CM said that the government welcomes constructive criticism aimed at improvement. However, he added, the media should hold its self-accountability and discourage yellow journalism.

The Chief Minister said that role of the media is pivotal in raising public awareness and added that journalistic right of healthy criticism on the government and other institutions is acceptable but working for transformation of the society instead of playing a routine innings will give you a sense of individuality in the journalistic community. It is an immense responsibility to rightly avail the power of the pen.

“Our energy projects developed with a cost of billion of rupees have started producing electricity despite criticism of the opponents, sit-ins and impediments raised in shape of public processions and gatherings.

“I challenge the opposition to find out any corruption in these projects. I point out with all humbleness and satisfaction that while the element of corruption is impossible in these projects, the energy projects are being completed with much lesser costs which were spent on earlier projects.”

On the other side, he added the incidents of terrorism have been much decreased as compared to the past. He said that Pakistani nation had given sacrifices of thousands of brave sons and added what more proof we should give to the world and assure them that

Newly-elected LPC President Azam Chaudhry thanked the Chief Minister and said that his services for strengthening of democracy are commendable and added that press is also working for the promotion of democratic norms. The journalist community is thankful to you for constituting a committee on the issue of B-Block. Rana Shahnawaz said that Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif is a ray of hope that will be beneficial for the societal development.

Spokesman for Punjab government Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said that consultation is in process with Board of Revenue and other institutions with regard to housing society of Lahore Press Club. He said the Punjab government would take every step for the support of journalists.

Other office-bearers thanked the chief minister for proving grant to the Press Club. They also apprised the Chief Minister about their problems. Press Secretary to CM Shoaib-Bin-Aziz, Secretary Information Raja Jehangir Anwar and DGPR Muhammad Shahid Iqbal were also present on the occasion.