LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that new standards of development will be set in Punjab and transparency is being ensured through monitoring of projects at every level. No compromise will be made on the construction standards, he said, adding that early completion of projects should be ensured. He expressed these views while addressing a high-level meeting on annual development programme. He said construction of buildings of educational institutions should be completed as soon as possible and different projects relating to the sports including sports complexes should be completed in a transparent manner so that the youth could be provided best facilities. The meeting was told that first phase of construction of teaching hospitals in four districts is being completed while medical colleges are being set up in four districts in the second phase. The Chief Minister said that transparency in development projects is a proud hallmark of the provincial government. “The provincial government has set an example by saving billions of rupees in development schemes. The timely completion of public welfare schemes is being ensured and the government is pursuing the policy of ensuring composite development in all areas. For the first time in the history of the country, more budget has been allocated for southern Punjab as compared to its population ratio.” The meeting was attended by MNA Hamza Shehbaz, Provincial Ministers Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, and Malik Nadeem Kamran. Separately, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the government had won the hearts of the people by fulfilling its promises made with them. “The overcoming of the energy crisis is a historic achievement. The Punjab government has introduced innovative development strategy in education, healthcare, agriculture and other sectors to help improve the quality of life of the people.” He said that the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Transplant Institute (PKLI) was providing best treatment facilities of kidney and liver diseases to patients from across the country and most modern medical equipment had been provided in different hospitals of the province. The government has also constructed thousands of kilometers long roads in different villages under Pakian Sarkan Sukhay Painday Project, he added. The Chief Minister expressed these views during a meeting with MNA Asadur Rehman and MPA Abdul Rauf. Taking notice of news report about extraction of bone marrow from some girls in Hafizabad, CM Sharif ordered the Hafizabad DPO to investigate the matter and submit a report to him. Published in Daily Times, February 13th 2018.