Amraiz Khan
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Thursday declared that officers…from high to low ranks… are posted purely on merit and police and administrative officials have been made totally independent to perform official duty in a diligent way.
“Officers are not ridiculed now, nor pressurized, unlike the past when self-respect of officers was hurt. Today government officials are totally independent to perform their duty.”
The chief minister regretted the past government made postings by promoting the culture of personal likes and dislikes, adding that disrespectful attitude towards the officers was the favourite modus operandi of the past rulers.
He said undue interference was made in government matters in the past and merit was violated in posting and transfers while blowing one’s own trumpet.
“The past rulers weakened the departments through nepotism and culture of recommendations,” he claimed, adding that today there is no pressure on officers in the performance of their duty and the independence available to officers is unprecedented.
The chief minister said the PTI has freed the departments from political pressures and intervention.
Meanwhile, CM Usman Buzdar said that the Punjab government has catered to the needs of every sector in the new budget and sufficient funds have been allocated for the development of social sector.
He said that a 110 percent increase has been made in the social sector’s allocations while Rs205.50 million has been earmarked for the health and education sector.
Similarly an 87 percent increase has also been made in the allocation for infrastructural development and Rs145.40 billion has been set aside for this sector.
Moreover, Rs.91.41 billion is given to special programs while enhancing a 92 percent increase.
A 234 per cent rise has also been made for the production sector as Rs57.90 are allocated for industries, agriculture, livestock, tourism, forests etc, concluded the CM.
Meanwhile, on the direction of Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, work has been started on mega projects in Lahore city including Shahkam Chowk overhead bridge, Ghulab Devi Hospital underpass and Sheranwala Gate overhead bridge.
The CM said an overhead bridge will be constructed from the railway station to Sheranwala Gate to ease the daily movement of people in the North and South parts of the city.
An underpass will be built near Ghulab Devi Hospital on Ferozepur Road, he added.
Similarly, the Shahkam Chowk overhead bridge will resolve daily traffic issues. Meanwhile, a 1,000 bed general hospital will be built in an area of 124 Kanal near Arfa Karim Technology Park.
The chief minister has directed the DG LDA to early complete the projects adding that an innovative plan be presented for solving the traffic problem at Cavalry Chowk.
Similarly, steps be taken for the signal-free corridor from Multan Road to Ferozepur Road, he added and further directed that remodelling of Shahdara Chowk be finalized soon.
Meanwhile, work on the Karim Block Iqbal Town overhead bridge/underpass project be started at the earliest, he said.
The PTI government is working hard to provide better facilities to the citizens of the provincial metropolis, he further said.
Earlier, DG LDA briefed the CM about projects for providing facilities to the citizens of the provincial metropolis.
