Focus on backward areas uplift: Buzdar

LAHORE:Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that the government was making the all-out effort to develop backward areas by promoting trade and industry as it would create more job opportunities, he observed.

The chief minister expressed these views while talking to Dera Ghazi Khan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DGKCCI) President Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi here at CM office on Tuesday. They discussed promotion of industrial sector in DG Khan and other parts of South Punjab.

During the meeting, Roomi also briefed the CM about the establishment of almonries in Koh-e-Sulaiman areas adjoining Balochistan. On this occasion, the chief minister said that cottage business housing concept would be introduced to provide the facility of work and lodge in the province. This would ensure self-employment as well as the living facility to the working women, he added. Quaid-e-Azam Business Park was being developed as a model special economic zone, he said and asserted that provision of necessary facilities, including electricity and water would be completed soon and an MoU had also been signed for the construction of interchange to approach the motorway.

The chief minister said that an underground power supply and combine treatment plant would be installed in Quaid-e-Azam Business Park along with the establishment of the industrial zone in Muzaffargarh through a public-private partnership mode. He accentuated to fully utilise the industrial potential of South Punjab and assured of building industrial zones in Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur on a fast-track basis. The government was making the all-out effort to develop backward areas by promoting trade and industry as it would create more job opportunities, he observed.

The chief minister said that special attention was being paid to establish industries for developing the undeveloped areas and assured to provide necessary facilities to the business community as it played an important role in jobs’ creation.

Usman Buzdar expressed satisfaction that the scope of almonries was being expanded to far-flung areas to fulfill the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The establishment of the facility of almonries was a step towards a welfare state and the cooperation of the business community was praiseworthy in this regard, he added.

Jalaluddin Roomi said the business community sided with the government in its efforts for public welfare and assured of extending full cooperation to run almonries. Meanwhile, health and educational projects were being completed in Balochistan, Sindh, North Waziristan, South Punjab and free medicines were also being provided in various Multan hospitals. Similarly, stipends were also being given to the needy students of South Punjab for professional education, he added. Industries Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, secretary industries, CEO PIEDMC and others were also present.