The government is taking steps to accelerate ongoing development work in South Punjab, said Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar while presiding over a meeting on Monday Development schemes going on in Southern Punjab came under discussion during the meeting. The chief minister directed the officials to expedite the pace of work on the development of remote and backward areas, adding that development schemes should be completed by the end of the current fiscal year. “More work should be done instead of paying lip service. Performance will have to be enhanced for bringing a positive change. Mere presentations will not work and the standard of governance will only improve when people are facilitated practically. Therefore, the development schemes pertaining to the welfare of the common man should be completed timely,” he added. Buzdar said that those who were responsible for the delay in public welfare schemes would have to be answerable and added that he would not tolerate any delay in welfare programmes. “People will get relief due to the timely completion of development schemes pertaining to the development of healthcare and education sectors, infrastructural development, repair and maintenance of roads and the provision of clean drinking water. The routine method of providing relief will have to be done away with. No discrimination will be tolerated with regard to the distribution of development funds in the districts,” he said. “The government has ensured transparent utilization of development schemes and no compromise will be made on the quality and timeline of development projects,” he added. The chief minister directed the officials to work on the beautification of entry and exit points of Southern Punjab districts. “Similarly, an effective system of removing garbage from the cities is essential and there is a need to further improve the cleanliness system,” the chief minister said. The Punjab Police IG, the administrative secretaries and others attended the meeting. Custodial death Separately, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Monday took notice of the death of a suspect in police custody in Arifwala. He sought a report from the Pakpattan DPO. He ordered police to hold an inquiry and added that legal action should be initiated against those responsible. Condolence Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Monday visited the residence of Housing Minister Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed at Rachna Block, Allama Iqbal Town. He expressed sorrow and grief over the death of Rasheed’s mother and offered fateha for the departed soul.