LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said maintenance of law and order in the province is top priority of the government and all possible steps are being taken for this purpose, and if the law and order situation is not improved, all governmental steps taken for the promotion of education, health, social and economic development and welfare of the people will yield little positive results. He was addressing the first meeting of MNAs and MPAs of Sahiwal division at Chief Minister's Secretariat, here Thursday. Provincial Ministers Muhammad Ashraf Khan Sohna, Malik Nadeem Kamran, Chairman P&D, Secretaries of the concerned departments, Commissioner Sahiwal and all DCOs and DPOs of the division attended the meeting. Shahbaz Sharif further added that the police stations should be made place of peace where common man may go for the redressal of his complaints without any fear and police will have to bring about a change in its behaviour. He said that the officers should work hard for the completion of development projects in their respective areas and ensure implementation according to the targets. Chief Minister said he himself would supervise the implementation on development projects. He directed to turn Pakpattan-Sahiwal Road into dual carriageway and also directed to constitute a high level committee for reviewing the utility of rest houses of Irrigation Department. He directed Secretary Health, Secretary Irrigation, Secretary Education, Secretary Communication & Public Health to visit Sahiwal division and formulate comprehensive recommendations for solving the problems and development projects with the consultation of elected representatives of the area. Shahbaz Sharif said that coalition government in Punjab has paid special attention to the maintenance of law and order and protection of life and property of the masses and due to the best security arrangements, no untoward incident occurred during Muharram-ul-Haraam and all religious rituals were held peacefully but due to the inefficiency of the local police a tragic incident took place at D.G. Khan which resulted in loss of innocent and precious lives. He said that local police did not take such steps for mourning processions as was directed for this purpose. He said that prompt effective measures have been taken towards security till the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA). He said that as Khadam-e-Punjab, service to the people is his responsibility and it is being ensured that the rights of the people be dispensed at their doorsteps without the tinge of corruption. He said that those officers who take service to the people as their mission, will be given due respect while incompetent and corrupt officers have no place in this government. He said that the institutions were ruined during the last eights years and those institutions would not only be revived and activated but the fruits of development will also have to be delivered to the people. The Chief Minister said that government is paying full attention to provide basic facilities to the people and solid measures are being taken for the uplift of education, health and other sectors. He said that it is the responsibility of the concerned departments to come up to the expectations of the people and timely complete development projects. He said that solution of peoples' problems and progress of the area is the responsibility of elected representatives therefore, all administrative machinery should extend cooperation to them and no delay should be made in their genuine demands. He said all the police officers have been told that provision of justice is their top priority and no pressure should be entertained in this regard. He said that redressal of grievances of the aggrieved and oppressed should be the top priority of police officers and they should behave politely in the police stations. He said that strict action should be taken against criminal elements and deterrent punishment should be awarded to them according to the law. He said that all police officers should utilize their abilities for purging the society of crimes and redressing the common man. The Chief Minister said that all police officers should pay visits to their respective areas for this purpose and should also consult elected representatives for improving law and order situation. He said that after declaring Sahiwal as a division, the pace of development will further be expedited and problems of the people will be solved at the local level besides it would help provide facilities to them. He directed Secretaries of the concerned departments to visit Sahiwal and prepare their recommendations regarding development projects in the new division. He also directed Chief Secretary and Chairman P&D to submit him a report after reviewing offices and other facilities in Sahiwal division. The Chief Minister said that he would soon visit Sahiwal. Earlier, members of national and provincial assemblies thanked the Chief Minister for declaring Sahiwal a division and said that this decision of the government will result in expediting the pace of development of the area and problems of the people would be resolved in a better manner. They also lauded the government measures being made for Food Support Programme and uplift of education, health and other sectors. On the occasion, all the MNAs and MPAs also apprised the Chief Minister of development schemes in the division.