Okays funds for projects at Cabinet Committee meeting
Staff Reporter
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar chaired a meeting of the cabinet standing committee for finance & development to review the pace of progress on development projects.
The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht, Industries Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, Chairman P&D and secretaries of finance, housing, local governments and special healthcare & medical education departments and others.
The meeting approved a number of mega projects and also in-principle approved to transfer new colleges, universities and hospitals on solar energy to conserve energy.
The meeting was told that the transfer of new institutions on solar energy will ensure up to 45 percent energy conservation.
The meeting also gave in-principle approval to the establishment of a directorate of drug control to regulate the manufacturing and standard of cosmetics and allied issues.
Similarly, the establishment, as well as up-gradation of several hospitals, was also approved.
New DHQ hospital in Hafizabad will be constructed at a cost of Rs8 billion while THQ hospital Nowshera of district Khushab will be upgraded with a cost of Rs250 million. Similarly, Rs400 million will be spent to upgrade THQ hospital Jaranwala.
The RHC Uch Sharif will be converted to a 60-bed hospital while the meeting also approved the up-gradation of THQ hospital Pattoki and establishment of a trauma centre with a cost of Rs210 million.
Along with it, the surgery ward will be constructed in Chunian hospital with Rs130 million while Rs70 million will be spent to build an emergency ward in Lalamusa hospital.
The THQ hospital Kharian will be upgraded with Rs190 million and another amount of Rs370 million will be utilized for the up-gradation of THQ hospital Minchinabad.
On the occasion, the participants also in-principle approved to establish dispensaries in Barkhan and Chaghi by the Punjab government as a goodwill gesture with a cost of Rs40 million.
The meeting was further told that the Punjab government will spend 740 million rupees for a general hospital in Turbat.
Meanwhile, Chairman Association of Private Sector Universities Prof Dr Ch. Abdul Rehman called on Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to discuss problems and higher education reforms. It was agreed to call the meeting of the higher education reforms committee.
The CM assured to early resolve the problems being faced by the private universities adding that the provision of the facility of one window operation is being reviewed for the private universities.
Meanwhile, Punjab Ombudsman Maj (r) Azam Sulaiman called on Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and presented him annual report as well as apprised him about the performance and other affairs of the institution.
The chief minister said that PTI believes in transparency and merit in government affairs.
Corruption, irregularities and negligence cannot be tolerated. The process of accountability and monitoring should be improved and made more efficient.
