LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar presided over the governing body meeting of Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Friday. Different matters came under discussion and budget of LDA’s Urban Development Wing, Water & Sanitation Authority and Traffic, Engineering & Planning Agency (TEPA) for the financial year 2018-2019 was accorded approval. The meeting also approved revised estimates of LDA’s Urban Development Wing, WASA and TEPA for the financial year 2017-18. The chief minister directed LDA to increase its resources adding that revenue generation should also be given attention for facilitating the general public. He directed to constitute a high-level committee for revenue generation of the LDA. He also directed that public interest schemes should be completed according to their schedule. Provincial Housing Minister Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, LDA Vice Chairman Muhammad Imran, Members of Provincial Assembly including Malik Mukhtar Ahmed, Umar Aftab, Muhammad Atif, Sadia Sohail Rana, Planning & Development (P&D) chairman, secretaries of the relevant departments, Lahore commissioner, spokesman to Punjab government and members of governing body attended the meeting. Separately, CM Buzdar said that telemedicine will be promoted by utilising latest information and communication technologies. As a result of it, patients from far-flung areas could consult their specialist doctors. He added that a pilot project of telemedicine will be started in Dera Ghazi Khan and Taunsa Sharif soon to help benefit the people belonging to the tribal areas. After the success of the pilot project, scope of this facility will be extended to other cities as well. He disclosed this while talking to the people belonging to DG Khan and other cities of the province at Arfa Karim Technology Park. Talking to them, the CM said that youth of deprived and backward areas will be provided employment opportunities through dexterous use of Information Technology. He pointed out that vast opportunities of progress and employment exists in the field of IT. Youth will be given necessary trainings about running IT based businesses in technology incubation centres. They will, thus, be able to earn the livelihood through freelancing, he added. Along with it, E-Khidmat Centers, E-Rozgar Centers and E-Earn Centers will also be established in remote areas for facilitating the people living there. He disclosed that establishment of special economic zone and IT University’s sub-campus in DG Khan will be reviewed as well. Meanwhile, Buzdar presided over an important meeting at AKTP in which China Pakistan Economic Corridor related projects and development schemes for future were reviewed. Addressing the meeting, Buzdar said that Special Economic Zones (SEZ) will be set up to help change the destiny of the people. “Investors will be given incentives in SEZs as we want to make Punjab the centre of trade and economic activities. Establishment of a mini-dam in Taunsa Sharif will be examined to store the gushing waters of hill-torrents of the area. Similarly, completion of Multan Nishtar-II project and cancer hospital for DG Khan is also under consideration,” he said reiterating his commitment that Punjab government will bring a revolution of information technology in DG Khan and other backward areas of the province. “We also welcome Chinese investment in social sector of the province,” he added. P&D chairman and secretary, Punjab Board of IT chairman and others attended the meeting. Separately, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari called on Buzdar at his office. Matters pertaining to development and prosperity of southern Punjab came under discussion. Talking on the occasion, the CM said that claims of development remained limited to certain areas and southern Punjab was ignored in the past. He said that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government has particularly focused on the development of backward areas and practical steps are being taken to develop the southern Punjab areas. From the next financial year, southern Punjab secretariat will start working and people of the southern Punjab will not have to come to Lahore for the solution of their problems. He said that every city, town and village has equal rights of development and people will be given this right under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The performance of educational institutions and hospitals in southern Punjab will be improved to introduce real change at the grassroots, the CM concluded. Separately, Buzdar took notice of the murder of two boys in Mansoorabad and sought a report from the Inspector General Police. He has directed to arrest the criminals as soon as possible. The police have arrested an accused involved in molesting of a female student in Taunsa Sharif. The police have also started legal proceedings after registration of the case. It may be added that Buzdar took notice of this said incident and directed to take action against the accused. Published in Daily Times, December 15th 2018.