Bahawalpur - The Punjab govt under the guidance of Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar continues to work on development projects under a systematic and comprehensive mechanism through continuous hard work, struggle and high planning to spread prosperity and raise the living standards of the people in Bahawalpur like the rest of the province.
These views were expressed by Commissioner Bahawalpur Division Muhammad Zafar Iqbal while presiding over a review meeting held in the conference room of his office here on Thursday to review the performance of development projects.
The people of Punjab, especially the backward areas, will be able to reap the benefits of development through the practical steps taken on these development projects designed with the challenges of the future in mind and the completion of these projects.
The meeting was attended by Divisional and District Administrative Officers including Deputy Commissioners of Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan districts of Bahawalpur Division.
The meeting was informed that under the Community Development Programme Phase II, funds amounting to Rs. 2334.93 million have been released for 261 development projects.
Similarly, Rs. 1050 million was released for 668 ongoing development projects of SAP Phase I while Rs. 1038.92 million was released for 546 development projects under SAP Phase II this year.
Addressing the meeting, Commissioner Bahawalpur Division Muhammad Zafar Iqbal said that it was the intention of the Punjab government to bring the fruits of comprehensive development to the backward and downtrodden sections at their doorsteps.
He warned that unnecessary delays or omissions in the completion of development projects would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
He directed that the administrative officers should visit the sites of development projects regularly and weekly monitoring reports of development projects should be given.
Islamia University of Bahawalpur leading towards sustainable development
Prof. Dr. Athar Mahboob, Vice Chancellor has said that the Islamia University of Bahawalpur has achieved the status of 4th Generation University, leading towards sustainable development which has made rapid progress in teaching, research and commercialisation of products.
The university has become one of the leading universities in the country, which is an important step towards self-sufficiency.
For the first time in the history of the university, commercial sale of cotton varieties IUB-222, MM-58 and IUB-13 has started.
It is very important that the increase in exports of agricultural economy and textile products will provide valuable foreign exchange which will surely lead to the stabilisation of the national economy, he said.
This measure will also help in the prosperity of the farmers and alleviation of poverty, he added.
Cotton of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur varieties are beneficial to the farmers due to their high productivity and better performance in local, geographical and climatic conditions and their ability to fight diseases, he said.
The Vice Chancellor credited Prof. Dr. Iqbal Director Research and Head of Plant Breeding and Genetics and congratulated him.
Meanwhile, a meeting was held for commercial sale of seeds of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur and varieties have been sold to companies offering higher rates.
These companies are stable in the market and Islamia University cotton will promote on a commercial scale.
IUB-222 has been given sale rights to a company called Kanzo while sales rights of IUB-13 and MM-58 have been given to Sun Crop Company.
The sale of these seeds has been transferred to the Islamia University of Bahawalpur.
The meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr. Iqbal while Prof. Dr. Moazzam Jameel, faculty members and representatives of related companies attended the meeting.