Sardar Usman Buzdar Unveils Punjab Growth Strategy-2023

Sardar Usman Buzdar unveils Punjab Growth Strategy-2023

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar unveiled Punjab Growth Strategy-2023 at a ceremony held in this connection here at 90-Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam Friday

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th May, 2019 ) :Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar unveiled Punjab Growth Strategy-2023 at a ceremony held in this connection here at 90-Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam Friday.

Addressing the launching ceremony, Buzdar said that Punjab Growth Strategy-2023 would determine the direction of economic development and fruit of progress would reach to every citizen of the province.

Chief Minister said, "We believe in public service, not for winning the elections, but for the blessing of Allah Almighty. The PTI will fulfill all the promises under its manifesto. Special attention is being paid to reforms in education, healthcare and agriculture etc. We want completion of CPEC projects and development of backward areas, eradication of unemployment." The growth strategy, he hoped, would present a strategy to cope with basic problems being faced by the people by ensuring their welfare and real development in Punjab.

Buzdar said the government would ensure 8.8 per cent reduction would be made in unemployment in the next five years by providing 1.2 million jobs annually. Similarly, the government also wanted to decrease poverty ratio from 26.2 per cent to 19.5 per cent by 2023, adding that 640,000 house would be constructed annually in next five years under Apna Ghar Scheme, and scope of this scheme would soon be expanded to all districts of Punjab. Quality of medical education and management of the hospitals would be improved and new hospitals would be constructed besides upgrading the existing hospitals and healthcare centers. Modern technology would also be fully utilised for the provision of basic healthcare facilities.

The chief minister said that more schools would be constructed and the existing ones would be renovated and missing facilities would also be made available there, while electricity or solar lights would be provided in more than 3,000 schools and science laboratories, and electronic libraries would be established in 27,000 schools.

He continued that shelter workshops would be set up for the blind people and degree colleges would be established in the special education sector.

Buzdar mentioned that work was being carried out for providing potable water in rural areas of Punjab. Availability of nine million acres feet additional water for irrigation would be ensured, and industries, agriculture and livestock sectors would also be upgraded besides increasing agri produces by promoting smart agriculture.

Special attention would be paid to real development of backward areas in Growth Strategy 2023, he said and added that south Punjab was facing shortage of resources due to trends of investment in specific areas. Backward areas were being awarded status of special economic zones for grabbing the attention of investors for which industrial estate of Vehari, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur would be developed speedily, he maintained.

He said that tall claims of progress and development were made in the past in the excitement of speech. People's sentiments were exploited by the rulers who had ruled for decades in Punjab and their self-claim development was limited on the tv screen and newspapers only as the graph of employment and exports were decreased in their tenure.

Provincial Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht and Provincial Advisor on Economic Affairs and Planning Dr Salman Shah also addressed the ceremony. Special Assistant to PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr Fidous Ashiq Awan, provincial ministers, MPAs, renowned economist Dr. Hafeez Pasha, Punjab P&D Department chairman, economic experts, high officials of relevant departments were also present.