Staff Reporter
Punjab Minister for Local Government & Community Development Mian Mahmoodur Rashid has said that in the first phase of Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement Investment Programme (PICIIP), development projects are being carried out in Sialkot and Sahiwal at a cost of Rs44 billion.
Whereas, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar khan, DG Khan ,Bahawalpur and Multan will be included in the second phase of the programme.
He declared that provision of facilities to the people at their doorstep is the top priority of the Punjab government.
Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed expressed the views during a meeting with members of a PTI delegation who called on him here on Sunday.
The delegation was led by Sabir Subhani whereas Waqas Amjad, Zeeshan Siddiqui and other office-bearers of the PTI were also present on the occasion.
The minister said that instructions have been issued to further accelerate development work on various schemes being carried out by the Local Government Department.
The minister informed that all legal requirements are being fulfilled for the procurement whereas an effective monitoring mechanism has also been developed in this regard.
He said that transparency in development projects is the top priority of the Punjab government.
He further informed that work is being carried out for providing municipal infrastructure including water supply, sewerage, solid waste management, public parks and streetlights in 16 cities at a cost of Rs34 billion.
He said that development projects have been designed in accordance with international studies.
Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed further stated that As per the vision of PM Imran Khan and CM Usman Buzdar provision of high quality municipal services are being ensured to the citizens. Local government department would be turned into an exemplary institute of public service.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government, under Public-Private Partnership, is launching Chip Designing Tools Project in the Universities of Punjab.
Work has been started on this project after signing an MoU between the Higher Education department and private partners.
These views were expressed in a meeting of Chief Minister Sardar Usman Bazdar with the Minister Higher Education Raja Yasir Humayun at the CM’s Office. Other higher education related matters were also discussed in the meeting.
Minister Raja Yasir Humayun briefed the Chief Minister about the steps being taken for the promotion of higher education in the province.
It was informed that the launching of Chip Designing Tools Project in Punjab universities will not only bring revolution in the IT sector but also generate employment opportunities.
