LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the government is fully aware of the difficulties being faced by agriculture sector.
“All out measures will be adopted to protect farmers and cultivators from the problems due to recession at international level in agri sector,” the chief minister said while addressing a meeting yesterday.
The chief minister with a view of addressing problems and providing them know-how on better means of agriculture, an agri conference is being arranged in the provincial metropolis during current month.
At the conference, he said, proposals would be invited to overcome problems in the agri sector, which he added, is backbone of the Punjab economy.
He said that all stakeholders will be invited to the conference in which solid and meaningful measures will be finalized with the consultation of cultivators, experts and other stakeholders.
The chief minister said that the future of Pakistan’s economy is linked with agriculture sector and all out resources will be made available for the stability and development of agriculture sector.
He said that government has taken a number of steps for the welfare and progress of rural population. He said that land record of 55 lakh landowners in 23000 villages has been computerized under Land Record Management Information System.
Shehbaz Sharif said that high quality roads are being constructed in rural areas for easy access from farms to market and three thousand kilometers long roads have already been constructed.
Similarly, he said, reconstruction of six barrages and different canals is being undertaken with a huge sum for the promotion of agriculture and irrigation sectors.
The chief minister further said that under Prime Minister’s Kissan Package, relief package of billions of rupees has been given to cultivators. He said thousands of cows, buffaloes, sheep and goats have been distributed free of cost among rural women for the purpose of poverty alleviation.
LAW AND ORDER: Shehbaz Sharif directed the police to go ahead with strict crackdown on criminal elements side by side ensuring foolproof arrangements for the protection of life and property of the citizens.
Presiding over the Cabinet Committee meeting on law and order, the chief minister said, all out resources will be made available to bring further improvement in law and order.
The meeting expressed satisfaction over the steps earlier taken to check misuse of loudspeaker, delivering of objectionable speeches besides publication and distribution of such hate and provocative material.
The meeting strongly condemned blast in the bus of secretariat employees in Peshawar and expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives. The participants of the meeting also prayed for the early recovery of injured persons.
The chief minister directed police to perform their responsibilities efficiently in the interest of further improving law and order. He also inspected operational vehicles provided by federal government for police.
Provincial Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah, Special Assistant Rana Maqbool Ahmad, Jahangir Khanzada MPA, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, Secretary Home and concerned officers attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Turk investors met Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif here today and expressed interest in setting up an energy project based on renewable sources in the province.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that besides traditional methods of generation of electricity, Punjab government is also setting up projects of power production through renewable sources.
He said that Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park has been set up in Bahawalpur in south Punjab while work is being carried out expeditiously on the setting up of gas-based power plants in the province.
Shehbaz Sharif said that facilities are being provided to the investors in energy sector on priority basis and all out incentives will also be given to Turk investors. Chairman Punjab Power Development Company Arif Saeed, Chairman Planning & Development, Secretary Energy and concerned officers were also present on the occasion.
DFID HEAD MEETS SHAHBAZ: British Department for International Development (DFID) head in Pakistan Ms. Joanna Reid during a meeting with the Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, discussed the programmes going on with the collaboration of DFID in education, health and skills development sectors in Punjab.
Joanna Reid appreciated the steps taken by Punjab government to reform and substantially improve education, health and skills development sectors. She said a lot of work is being carried out in these sectors under the leadership of Chief Minister.
She said that she is happy to see proper use of British taxpayers’ money in Punjab and credit for this goes to the determined leadership of Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his talented team.
The chief minister on the occasion said, Pakistan and Britain are strong partners in the process of progress and prosperity and which speaks through the increasing cooperation being between Punjab government and DFID in different sectors.
He said that policy of transparency and standard is being implemented at every level in Punjab and the provincial government is ensuring proper use of every penny. DFID representative in Punjab, Ben French was also present on the occasion.