LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that timely and transparent completion of development projects is being ensured for the rapid development of the province and welfare of masses while solid measures are being taken for bringing less-developed areas at par with the developed ones. He was addressing inaugural and foundation stone laying ceremonies of various development projects in Sangla Hill (Nankana Sahib) on Monday. Member National Assembly Barjees Tahir, Members Provincial Assembly Rana Muhammad Arshad, Tariq Bajwa, Rai Shahjehan Bhatti, prominent and veteran journalist Majid Nizami, Secretary Communication & Works, Chairman TEVTA and Commissioner Lahore were also present on the occasion. The Chief Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stone of various development projects worth around Rs 3 billion in Sangla Hill. According to an official handout, the CM said that future of Pakistan was closely linked with vocational education as the country can be put on the road to progress and prosperity only by imparting modern knowledge to the youth. He said that measures are being taken for enabling the women to join the mainstream of development and state-of-the-art technical institutes are being set up for this purpose. He announced provision of two buses for the girl students of Hameed Nizami Vocational Training Institute Sangla Hill (District Nankana) and construction of hostels for the students of Polytechnic Institute and Vocational Training Institute. The chief minister said that service of people was the mission of the government and all out resources were being utilized for the welfare of the masses. He said that a comprehensive strategy had been adopted for eradicating illiteracy and ignorance from the society. He said that revolutionary measures had been taken for the uplift of education sector. Shahbaz said that TEVTA had been made a proactive and vibrant institution for developing a skilled workforce in accordance with the market needs. Vocational education can not only help the youth earn its livelihood but also play its due role in the progress and development of the country. He said Hamid Nizami Polytechnic and Vocational Training Institutes in Sangla Hill will be made state-of-the-art institutions and latest courses would be arranged for the students. While inaugurating various development projects, Shahbaz Sharif said that corruption-free culture had been revived in the province after ten years and corruption and irregularities have been strictly checked. He said that not only a high standard of construction work is being maintained but transparent utilization of development funds is also being ensured. He directed Secretary Communication & Works and other officers concerned to ensure a high standard of the ongoing development projects in Sangla Hill besides issuing instructions for conducting third-party audit of the projects. He said that measures were also being taken for providing a healthy atmosphere to the people and promoting horticulture for the beautification of the ongoing development projects. He said that maximum trees should be planted in the parks and along the new roads in Sangla Hill and provision of healthy recreational facilities should also be ensured in the parks. He said that Sangla Hill was an ancient city and measures were being taken for preserving the historic hill associated with Alexander the Great. He further directed that in future not a single stone should be removed from this hill and besides its conservation a high standard park at Sangla Hill should also be maintained. He said that modern vocational institutes had been inaugurated in Sangla Hill and they will be affiliated with the prestigious institutes of technical education. He issued instruction for further raising the boundary walls of Vocational Training Institute for Women so that the students could pursue their studies in a peaceful atmosphere. Shahbaz Sharif during his visit also inaugurated Clock Tower, Nawaz Sharif Chowk, Presbyterian Church, Pandorian Road, Sangla Hill, Sikandar-e-Azam Chowk, Shahkot-Sangla Hill Road and Hamid Nizami Polytechnic and Vocational Institutes besides laying foundation stone of Sangla Hill Park. Special prayers were also offered on this occasion for the progress and prosperity of the country. He also went to the residence of Member National Assembly Barjees Tahir where a large number of Muslim League workers had gathered. Earlier, talking to media men, the chief minister said that a peaceful atmosphere will be maintained in all educational institutions. He said that respect and dignity of teachers was essential for education as they play an important role in the character-building of students. He said that strict notice had been taken of the Punjab University incident and instructions had been issued for action against the guilty persons without any discrimination. Replying to a question about load-shedding, he said that measures will have to be taken on war-footing for coping with this problem. He said that he had repeated his request to the Prime Minister to immediately start such projects of power generation which could be initiated without any delay.