Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that the development of small cities is our top priority, while 1500 green buses will be running across Punjab by December.
Addressing a ceremony to provide electric buses in Pakpattan, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that the Shatra Punjab program has far exceeded my expectations, under which revolutionary projects of cleanliness, sewage, clean water and public transport are underway throughout the province.
She said that Pakpattan is looking cleaner and greener than before and now small cities of Punjab are also being made beautiful and developed like big cities.
Maryam Nawaz said that my main focus is on small cities, because the people there are more deserving of these facilities. She said that 35,000 machines have been purchased for the Shatra Punjab program and now cleaning work is going on across the province without any discrimination.
He said that the electric buses have air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and a separate space for women so that they do not have to face any kind of problem during the journey. He said that earlier public transport was limited to Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan and Bahawalpur, but now 1100 new green buses will provide travel facility in every city of Punjab for just Rs 20.
Maryam Nawaz said that 1500 buses will be running on the roads by December and after that 500 more buses will come on the roads in April and May. The Chief Minister directed the district officers to build bus stops on all routes in 3 months so that the people can wait comfortably.
He said that under the Punjab Development Plan, new lines are being laid where the sewage system is blocked or damaged. Underground water reservoirs are also being built so that the citizens do not face any problems during the rains. According to the Chief Minister, WASA is now not limited to Lahore or a few cities but is fully operational in 25 cities, where water is removed within a few hours of rain.
Maryam Nawaz said that we are building 25 kilometers of roads in every village, 20 thousand kilometers of roads were completed last year and this year this scope is being further expanded so that villages are connected to cities.
Referring to the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar scheme, the Chief Minister of Punjab said that in just seven to eight months, 90 thousand houses are being constructed and in the next five years, five to seven lakh families will be given their own homes. He added that ration cards have been issued to 1.4 million families, who are being given Rs 3,000 per month.
Regarding the health sector, Maryam Nawaz said that a catheter lab has been established in the Sahiwal Cardiology Center, modern treatment facilities are also being provided in Sargodha, while the world’s largest cancer hospital with 1,000 beds in Lahore is in the final stages of completion.
He said that free treatment will be provided to poor patients from all over Punjab, for which five billion rupees have been allocated. Along with this, modern machinery is also being ordered for Rawalpindi, Multan and Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital.
The Chief Minister, while praising the performance of the Crime Control Department, said that in a few months, 25 districts of Punjab have become zero crime zones, now women, girls and mothers can go out without fear.
He said that interest-free loans of up to one and a half lakh rupees are being provided for each crop under the Kisan Card, while a historic subsidy on fertilizer is also being planned. All programs, whether it is Clean Punjab, clean water, Kisan Card or tractors, are being continued for the entire province without any discrimination.
Regarding the flood victims, Maryam Nawaz said that in the worst flood in history, the government shifted two and a half million people and two million livestock to safe places and provided treatment and medicines to more than two million victims.
At the end of the speech, the Chief Minister criticized the opponents and said that those who are trying to divide the NCP, the NCP, and the NCP should remember that the NCP and the NCP are united like a lead wall. Such people will meet their end as always.