LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has unequivocally condemned the landmine blasts in Kurram Agency and expressed deep sorrow over the martyrdom of an army officer as well as three personnel of the Frontier Corps. While commiserate with the bereaved families, the chief minister prayed for the quick recovery of those injured in the blast. Furthermore, he paid gratitude to the blast martyrs and said that brave sons of the country were hero of the whole nation. He said that due to the great sacrifices of martyrs, peace in Pakistan had returned and people highly regard as well as count them crowns of their heads who were sacrificing their today for the nation’s tomorrow. “There is no match of the sacrifices Pakistan has made in the fight against terrorism,” he added. Meanwhile, the chief minister has said that the extension and expansion project of the road from Thokar Naiz Baig to Hadyara Drain will facilitate the people in their mobility and completion of this project will also help to maintain the smooth flow of traffic coming from Multan and other cities to Lahore. Addressing a meeting via a video link here on Sunday, the chief minister that the project needed to be completed within stipulated time frame. The project is of vital importance to maintain smooth flow of traffic coming from Multan and other cities in Lahore and completion of the project would bring much facilitation for common people. He directed authorities concerned to take special measures and ensure quality and speed in order to complete it before stipulated time. The chief minister also directed authorities concerned to form a steering committee – under the supervision of the Punjab planning and development minister and the chief sectary – which would be responsible for implementation of all the matters of the project. He also ordered officials concerned to make effective alternative arrangements of traffic during the implementation of the project. The National Highway Authority chairman briefed the meeting about the project. Punjab Planning and Development Minister Malik Nadeem Kamran, MNA Afzal Khokhar, chief secretary, construction and communication secretary, planning and development chairman and other officials attended the meeting. Separately, in his message on World Food Day, the chief minister said it was imperative to generate awareness among public about the need to increase food resources and prevention of food wastage. “In order to ensure food security, it is necessary that the government, research and financial institutions and the civil society have close interaction to ensure food security.” Shehbaz said that the purpose of observing the day was to accelerate efforts to solve problems arising from food scarcity and added that the Punjab government was taking all necessary steps to resolve the issues of food deficiency. He said that the government had provided various privileges in the agriculture sector in order to ensure food security and it was the prime priority of the government to ensure availability of food to every person by maintaining a balance between demand and supply of food. “Likewise, the Punjab government has announced the historical Kissan Package pertaining to shortage of food and this historical package worth billions of rupees is having a far reaching impact on the agriculture sector,” he added. He said that development and prosperity of farmer was actually the development and prosperity of Pakistan as the progress of farmers would surely minimise the possibility of food shortage. “We need to ensure implementation of devised policies honestly in order to cope with the issue of unavailability of food. We will have to reassure the fact that all the resources of the country will be utilised to ensure food security.” Published in Daily Times, October 16th 2017.