Huge budget earmarked for uplift of South Punjab: Buzdar

LAHORE: Enjoying the fruits of development is an equal right of the people of South Punjab and the PTI has returned this right back to the people of south Punjab districts to ensure composite development.

In a statement issued on Monday, Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar regretted the past governments befooled the people of South Punjab districts with empty slogans and wasted the resources, meant for south Punjab's development, on projects of choice.

The funds for south Punjab were transferred to other projects by imposing a cut on the budget of south Punjab, he deplored.

The CM said a separate budget is prepared for the progress and prosperity of the people of south Punjab. Giving the details, he said a huge sum of 189 billion rupees has been earmarked for south Punjab while ring-fencing this 35 per cent funds.

Meanwhile, a separate ADP book of south Punjab has also been compiled and the foundation stone of the south Punjab secretariat will be laid soon in Bahawalpur after Multan, he added. Likewise, the rules of business of the south Punjab secretariat have also been finalised and will be notified early, he said.

Together with it, it has been decided in principle to allocate a 32 per cent quota for south Punjab youth in provincial recruitment. A proposal is also under consideration to include the peripheral districts of Mianwali and Bhakkar in this quota, the CM disclosed.

After this, the quota would swell to 35 per cent, he continued. The PTI-led government has started numerous projects in south Punjab to meet the aspirations of the people and it will go to every extent to fulfill its commitment with south Punjab, concluded the CM.

Meanwhile, CM said that the fourth corona wave is knocking at the doors due to the non-observance of corona related SOPs and casual social behaviour of citizens.

In a statement on Monday, Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar regretted the corona cases are increasing due to the little practice of following SOPs at markets and other public places. He asked the citizens to continue following SOPs and get themselves vaccinated as well.

SOPs must be fully observed for avoiding restrictions and smart lockdown would be the only option if precautions are not followed, he emphasised. The citizens should fully observe every precaution as it is in their own interest, concluded the CM.