Punjab CM Buzdar approves various mega development projects

LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar Thursday chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Standing Committee for Finance & Development to review the pace of progress on development projects.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht, Industries Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, Chairman P&D and Secretaries of Finance, Housing, Local Governments and Special Healthcare & Medical Education Departments and others. The meeting approved a number of mega projects and also in-principle approved to shift new colleges, universities and hospitals on solar energy. The meeting was told that shifting of new institutions on solar technology will save upto 45 per cent of energy.

The meeting also gave in-principle approval to establish a directorate of drug control to regulate the manufacturing and standard of cosmetics and allied issues. Also, the establishment, as well as up-gradation of several hospitals, was also approved. It was decided that a new DHQ hospital in Hafizabad will be constructed at a cost of eight billion rupees while THQ hospital Nowshera of district Khushab will be upgraded with a cost of Rs25 crore.

Similarly, Rs 40 crore will be spent to upgrade THQ hospital Jaranwala. The RHC Uch Sharif will be converted to a 60-bed hospital while the meeting also approved the up-gradation of THQ hospital Pattoki and establishment of a trauma centre with a cost of Rs 21 crores. Along with it, the surgery ward will be constructed in Chunian hospital with Rs 13 crores while Rs 7 crore will be spent to build an emergency ward in Lalamusa hospital. The THQ hospital Kharian will be upgraded with Rs 19 crores and another amount of Rs 37 crores will be utilized for the up-gradation of THQ hospital Minchinabad.

One billion rupees were approved for eight different roads of Faisalabad. This approval was given in the backdrop of an announcement made by CM Usman Buzdar during his Faisalabad visit to complete 22 development projects with Rs14 billion under the district development package. The participants also in-principle approved to establish dispensaries in Barkhan and Chaghi by the Punjab government as a good will gesture with a cost of Rs 4 crores. The meeting was told that the Punjab government will spend Rs740 million for a general hospital in Turbat.

CM for strict adherence to corona SOPs

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has directed to strictly follow the Corona SOPs and said that the restriction on wearing the mask and social distancing should strictly be enforced in Ramadan bazaars.

“Mask is of utmost necessary to deal with the Covid-19”, he said and urged to avoid the rush in Ramazan bazaars in wake of the recent wave of corona. He said that people should come to Ramazan bazaars wearing masks and observe the social distance.

He further maintained that restriction of masks and social distance should be ensured in markets as well as legal action should be taken against the violation of corona SOPs.

close