MULTAN  - Planning Division (PD) of the federal government on Tuesday discussed various mega development projects for south Punjab uplift and required funding with the south Punjab secretariat officials for the fiscal year 2022-23 at a virtual conference on Tuesday.

The maiden online interaction by PD Islamabad and south Punjab officials with Chairman Planning and Development Punjab also in the loop, decided to further move ahead to initiating and executing mega development projects announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar for robust south Punjab development.

They discussed a variety of infrastructure development projects from two-lane highways and bridges to supporting cattle rearers for Halal meat production, modern slaughter house facilities, steps for top quality seed certification and marketing, and enhanced export of kino and mango from Rahimyar Khan.  The bureaucrats from PD Islamabad and south Punjab secretariat also decided to register mango orchards and extend technical support to them. 

It was further discussed to set up Halal Complex at Cholistan and Dera Ghazi Khan, besides fish processing plant, commercial fish feed mills, more upgrded health facilities and solar power projects in south Punjab.

The conference participants decided to finalize paper work on the new projects within a week and assigned south Punjab secretariat to provide data to planning division on south Punjab livestock, agriculture production, mango orchards, fish farming and traffic count on different highways.

Additional chief secretary south Punjab Captain (Retired) Saqib Zafar deputed secretary P&D south Punjab as focal person. Saqib Zafar said that rush of patients at Bahawal Victoria hospital in Bahawalpur was on the rise and asked officials to come up with a proposal of another big hospital there with a proper site finalized.

Secretary P&D south Shoaib Sayyid, secretary agriculture Saqib Ali Ateel, secretary primary and secondary health Tanweer Iqbal Tabassum, secretary forests and fisheries Sarfraz Magsi, additional secretary specialized health Amjad Shoaib Khan Tareen, and secretary livestock were present.

Secy Agriculture  S. Punjab chairs meeting to review ADP schemes for year 2022-23

To modernize agriculture sector, Secretary Agriculture South Punjab Saqib Ali Ateel chaired a review meeting of Annual Development Programme (ADP) schemes for the year 2022-23, here on Tuesday.

Secretary Agriculture South Punjab Saqib Ateel addressing the meeting said that the ADP scheme would surely help promote agriculture sector and improve financial status of the peasants.

The annual development program is being prepared in the light of recommendations of experts and researchers. It will aimed at welfare of the farmers, said Saqib. With the completion of uplift schemes, the farmers will get immense relief.  He remarked that South Punjab Agriculture Secretariat would continue to play key role for the development of the region. So, timely completion of annual development projects is the top priority of the government.  All the officers should prove their efficiency in these projects, he instructed. The comprehensive agriculture development program is being formulated to modernize agriculture. Steps should be taken to convert potential crops to high value crops. Likewise, the irrigation should be managed in efficient way.  Meanwhile, Secretary Agriculture South Punjab Saqib Ali Ateel chaired another meeting to review the cotton production plan for the year 2022-23.  He directed officers to start preparation and publication of cotton production plan and complete it as early as possible. The secretary agriculture also directed field officers to keep visiting field in order to guide farmers about cotton production plan and share information about new technology.   

The meeting was attended by many experts and officials from agriculture department.