CPEC is a game changer for the country: CM Punjab
The Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif said that the CPEC is a game changer for progress and prosperity of the country and not only Pakistan but the entire region will benefit from this project. He said that work is being carried out speedily on CPEC projects in Punjab. This he expressed during a meeting with Federal Minister for Planning & Development Ahsan Iqbal.
The Minister met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for discussing matters of mutual interest, situation in the country and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) were discussed in the meeting. The Chief Minister said that work is continuing round the clock on 1320 megawatts coal-based power plant in Sahiwal and this project will be completed by the end of 2017. Similarly, work is also in progress on solar project at Quaid-eAzam Solar Park Bahawalpur. Shehbaz Sharif said that investment of 46 billion dollars by China is a proof of full confidence of the Chinese leadership in the federal government led by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and deep love for the people of Pakistan.
He said that while the entire region will benefit from the completion of CPEC projects, a new era of progress and prosperity will usher in Pakistan. The Chief Minister further said that there is a need for collective efforts for benefiting from this historic opportunity. He said that every single penny under CPEC is being spent transparently on the projects of prosperity of the people and these projects will be completed within stipulated period.
Meanwhile, Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Marvi Memon met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, here Saturday. Matters of mutual interest and ongoing programmes for the help of poorest families were discussed during the meeting. Speaking on the occasion,the Chief Minister said that welfare of masses and improving their living standard was top priority of the government.
He said that billions of rupees were being spent on programmes of provision of relief to resource-less families. He said that a number of programmes for the betterment of downtrodden people and welfare of common man were continuing successfully in Punjab. He said that Punjab Khidmat Card Programme has been launched for the provision of interest-free loans and free vocational training for the rehabilitation, welfare and financial assistance of deserving special persons.
Shehbaz Sharif said that full assistance is being provided to special persons for making them active and useful member of the society throughout the province. He said that two lakh deserving special persons of the province will benefit from this programme. He said that Rs 3600 are being given quarterly to the deserving special persons under this programme. He said that Rs 2 billion have been allocated for the first phase of Punjab Khidat Card Programme. He said that Punjab Khidmat Card was a revolutionary programme for the provision of vocational training and financial assistance to special persons enabling them stand on their own feet.
Marvi Memon congratulated Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on taking steps for downtrodden people and empowering the women socioeconomically. Moreover, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presided over a high-level meeting here today which reviewed overall law and order situation in the province and security measures for educational institutions. The Chief Minister while addressing the meeting, said that no compromise will be made on security of private and public sector educational institutions.
He said that departments and institutions concerned should play an active role for the implementation of the security plan devised for this purpose. Shehbaz Sharif while directing to further improve security of private and government sector educational institutions, said that all out measures should be taken for the protection of life and property of citizens and effective monitoring of security arrangements evolved for private and public sector schools, colleges and universities should be continued.
He directed that Provincial Ministers and secretaries should continue to monitor implementation of the security plan for educational institutions. Similarly, he said, divisional commissioners, RPOs, CPOs, DCOs and DPOs should regularly review security arrangements of private and government educational institutions. He said that strict implementation of the security plan should be ensured and the departments and institutions concerned should perform their duties with effective coordination while third party audit of security measures should be conducted on regular basis as no laxity or negligence is tolerable in the present situation.