Mega development projects worth billions of rupees have been completed by the Punjab Government during the last four and half years for providing relief to the people both in the rural and urban areas throughout the province. 

This has been quite rightly claimed by Provincial Minister Shahbaz Sharif while addressing a meeting in Model Town Lahore through video link prior to his departure for Makkah from Medina in Saudi Arabia the other day. 

According to the reports in the newspapers, the chief minister said work on a number of more mega projects in different sectors is continuing round the clock with prime focus on improving living standards of the people. CM Sharif attached due priority at the same time for ensuring socio-economic development of the residents of districts located in the southern region of the province through the allocation of special funds which are 10 percent more as compared to the population figures than other districts. 

During the meeting, progress on the on-going development projects was discussed at length to ensure that projects are completed within the stipulated period. 

It also goes to the credit of the Punjab Government that a much appreciable system of third-party audit apart from the internal audit system has been introduced. Due to this mechanism, instant and transparent utilization of funds has been ensured, and the development projects are being completed speedily and transparently in every nook and corner of the province. 

It is also commendable to note that the provincial government has turned the direction of its resources to the less-developed areas with a focus on the poor people. All this augurs well for the welfare and well-being of the people to which the government is committed and working round the clock on speedy and timely completion of more and more development projects. 

MEEM ZAY RIFAT,  

Lahore, December 31.