Daily Times

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar presided over a high-level meeting at the office of P&D Board on Wednesday in which provincial development strategy 2023 was reviewed. Progress made on provincial annual development program 2018-19 was reviewed and salient feature of proposed ADP for the financial year 2019-20 was discussed as well. The Chief Minister approved the draft of provincial development strategy 2023 which would now be presented before the cabinet.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that a composite development strategy has been devised to promote the provincial economy on the durable lines. The growth rate would be increased and investment would be promoted in collaboration with the private sector. We want to rectify the geographical imbalance of the past governments with regard to development and the goal of balanced geographical development would be achieved through a comprehensive development strategy, he added. He said that solid steps will be taken to increase the provincial resources so that people could be provided with more facilities. He said that more resources will be allocated for the provision of education, healthcare, clean drinking water and other facilities. He said that the draft development strategy has been devised with the utmost care, hard work and all the stakeholders have also been consulted. New steps have been proposed by learning from the mistakes of the past policies and governmental steps will help to alleviate poverty to improve the quality of life of the people, he added. Secretary P&D gave a briefing about the important points of development strategy 2023.

The meeting also reviewed progress made on provincial ADP 2018-19 along with deliberating upon the salient features of proposed ADP 2019-20. The Chief Minister expressed his displeasure over the failure of some departments in the timely utilization of development funds released for different schemes during the current financial year. He said that timely completion of public welfare schemes is essential as it benefits the people. He directed to ensure timely utilization of funds for public welfare schemes adding that delay would not be tolerated. Delay in the utilization of development funds should be avoided as this would not work now, he added. The funds released to different departments should be properly utilized on public welfare schemes and delay by some of the departments is unacceptable. He said that timely and maximum utilization of funds should be ensured during the current financial year. The Chief Minister said that next year’s ADP should depict the priorities of the people in the real sense and added that more funds should be allocated for education, healthcare, clean drinking water and other social sectors. Secretary P&D briefed about progress on provincial ADP 2018-19 and important features of proposed ADP 2019-20.

Imam-e-Kaaba Dr. Abdullah Awad Al-Juhany called on Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar at his office

Provincial ministers Raja Basharat, Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht, Malik Nauman Ahmad Langhrial, Yasir Humayun, Chief Whip Syed Abbas Ali Shah MPA, Chief Secretary, Chairman P&D, administrative secretaries and others attended the meeting.

Later on, Imam-e-Kaaba Dr. Abdullah Awad Al-Juhany called on Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar at his office here on Wednesday and discussed various matters of mutual interest including the promotion of Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations and the problems faced by the Muslim countries around the world. The Chief Minister accorded warm welcome to the Imam-e-Kaaba upon his arrival to the Chief Minister’s Office.

Talking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the arrival of Imam-e-Kaaba to Pakistan is a matter of great honor for all of us. Both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are interlinked with each other in the bond of historically important brotherly relations and Saudi Arabia has vigorously sided with Pakistan during every difficult moment. The recent visit to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman to Pakistan is the start of new relations between the two countries. In fact, we just cannot forget the tremendous cooperation extended by Saudi Arabia to Pakistan and both people and the government of Pakistan give tremendous importance to their relations with Saudi Arabia, he added. He said that Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations have entered into a new phase during the incumbent government of Prime Minister Imran Khan and the blissful arrival of Imam-e-Kaaba to Pakistan will further strengthen the brotherly relations between the two countries. He said that relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are knitted with the bonds of Islamic brotherhood and solidarity. Both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have common interests which depict the desire for the promotion of peace because peace is our collective asset. He said that the hearts of the people of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia beat in unison and our joys and moments of sadness are also collected.

The people of both countries share each other’s joys and sorrows. He said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are like a single soul inhabiting two bodies and the arrival of Imam-e-Kaaba is a matter of honor for all of us and we are thankful to him for this benevolence.