Daily Times

Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has directed to give practical shape to economic zones project without delay adding that making Punjab an industrial hub is his mission.

He was presiding over a meeting at his office to review progress on the establishment of special economic zones. Secretary industries department briefed the participants about the establishment of special economic zones and industrial estates.

Addressing the meeting, the CM stated the process of the approval of establishing nine economic zones is completed and practical steps are underway now. The economic zones will not only usher in the industrial revolution but will also provide more than 17 lakh job opportunities to the needy, he added. Similarly, more than 807 billion rupees investment is also expected in the economic zones. The interest of the investors in purchasing industrial plots is encouraging, he remarked.

He disclosed that Bahawalpur industrial estate will soon be inaugurated while JW China-Pakistan Special Economic Zone will be established at Raiwind Road over an area of 161.5 acres in collaboration with the private sector. The CM expressed the satisfaction that the Industrial City Faisalabad, Allama Iqbal Industrial Estate and value-added special economic zone projects will promote trade and investment in the province. Rs 50 billion investment and 1.25 lakh jobs are expected through Rahim Yar Khan Industrial Estate as the government will provide every possible incentive in special economic zones and industrial estates, concluded the CM.

Provincial Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht, Advisor Dr Salman Shah, Chairman P&D, secretaries of C&W and finance departments and others attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has directed the local bodies institutions to improve cleanliness situation in the province as provision of a neat and clean atmosphere to the citizens is a priority agenda of the government.

While chairing a meeting at his office about local bodies, the CM made it clear that he wants to see every city and town neat and clean adding that any negligence will not be tolerated in this regard. Resources will be provided for improving the cleanliness situation and the local government department should show no negligence in solving public problems, he added. The local bodies system will devolve the fruits of development to the doorsteps of the people and a new era of development and prosperity will be started, he added. The sewage, sanitation, provision of drinking water, and other citizens’ related problems will be solved, he assured.

The CM directed that complaints submitted through baldia online app should be redressed at every cost. It is satisfying that 6 different services are being provided through this app, he added. Secretary local government briefed the meeting about the matters relating to local bodies.

Provincial Ministers Abdul Aleem Khan, Raja Basharat, Hashim Jawan Bakht, Mian Mahmood ur Rasheed, Murad Raas, Yasir Humayun, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Chief Secretary, Chairman P&D, Secretary Good Governance Committee and others attended the meeting.

Separately, Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has said the citizens should take care of their health and the cardiac patients should, particularly, be more careful in the wake of the corona.

In his message, the CM maintained that the risk of the cardiac attack has increased after the corona and it is imperative to take care of cardiac health along with taking other measures to remain safe from different diseases. The adoption of a healthy lifestyle and the use of simple food is the best safety measure to avoid cardiac diseases, he added. Usman Buzdar asserted that people should also avoid harmful habits like smoking to keep their hearts healthy. Meanwhile, the government ensured to take steps for the cardiac patients during the coronavirus pandemic and added that such patients are provided with the best treatment facilities through Sehat Insaf Cards. Meanwhile, patients from all the provinces will equally benefit from the facility of DG Khan Institute of Cardiology and the government is also deliberating about setting up more cardiology institutes to provide the best treatment facilities to the doorsteps of the patients, concluded the CM.