LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that “Khadim-e-Punjab Saaf Pani Programme” is a splendid public welfare project for supply of potable water to the masses.
He was presiding over a meeting to review the pace of Khadim-e-Punjab Saaf Pani Programme, here yesterday. He said that in view of importance of this programme, it should be implemented in a professional manner so that people should benefit as early as possible.
The chief minister said that potable water is the right of every citizen, however, no attention was paid to this important issue in the past due to which a large number of people remained deprived of this basic facility. He said that Punjab government has evolved Saaf Pani Programme at a cost of billions of rupees and the completion of this project will result in availability of clean drinking water to the people besides diseases caused by polluted water will also be controlled.
The chief minister said that while elite use mineral water, it is the right of the common man to have potable water and implementation of this programme will remove this disparity. Shehbaz Sharif said that Saaf Pani Programme is a vital project and should be implemented in a professional instead of traditional manner. He expressed displeasure over the increase in estimates and handling of some matters in a non-professional manner relating to implementation of the programme and constituted a committee to investigate into the increase in the estimated cost.
He said that interest of the people is very dear to the government, therefore, no negligence or laxity will be tolerated towards this project. Shehbaz Sharif said that the project will be completed in a transparent manner under the policy of Punjab government and proper utilisation of every penny of public money will be ensured.
Issuing instructions to Punjab Saaf Pani Company, the Chief Minister directed that all out energies should be utilized for the early completion of this project and its execution should be ensured within stipulated period.
He said that under this programme public resources are being spent on provision of basic facilities to the citizens.
He said that he is personally monitoring progress of this programme of public interest.
Provincial Ministers Malik Nadeem Kamran and Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Chairman Punjab Saaf Pani Company South Muhammad Kashif MPA, Chairman Punjab Saaf Pani Company North Major (r) Tahir Iqbal MNA, Additional Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning & Development and concerned officials attended the meeting. Provincial Minister Tanvir Aslam Malik participated in the meeting through video link from Chakwal.
