MUHAMMAD SALEEM

LAHORE: The Punjab Cabinet, which met here Monday with chief minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif in the chair, accorded approval to supplementary budget and revised estimates for the financial year 2017-18.

The meeting also approved revised annual development programme (ADP) 2017-18 along with approving the minutes of 31st meeting of the cabinet and approval of decisions taken in the 55th meeting of Cabinet’s Standing Committee on Finance and Development.

Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz said that the Punjab government is presenting the supplementary budget for the financial year 2017-18 and the next government will present the new budget.

“The Punjab government has spent resources on public welfare by considering them as a sacred trust while welfare of the masses has always been given preference,” he said, adding: “The Punjab government has made a real saving of billions of rupees through its transparent policies and the saved amount has been spent on public welfare.”

Shahbaz said the nations do not progress by barrowing from others as only the self-reliant nations move forward. “I want my nation to stand on its own feet and you all have to follow the golden principles of hard work, honesty and trust as Allah Almighty also helps those who work with the sincerity of purpose,” he said.

Expressing satisfaction that important reforms have been introduced in health and education sectors by enhancing their budgets, Shahbaz said that public service is our core mission which would be continued with speed and efficiency.

He added that judicial e-stamp papers program is a revolutionary step having far-reaching impacts and due to it, billions of rupees have been deposited in the government kitty during the current fiscal year.

Provincial Ministers, Advisors, Special Assistants, Chief Secretary and high officials attended the meeting.

Moreover, while talking to the federal minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, federal minister for Water Resources Syed Javed Ali Shah, Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju and MNAs Sh Faiz-ud-Din and Saeed Ahmad Khan Manhais, said the Punjab government believes in the vision of composite development of all the cities and rural areas adding that provision of record development budget for Southern Punjab is a historic step of the PML-N.

“The PML-N will also succeed from Southern Punjab with thumping majority and if an opportunity is accorded by Allah Almighty, more mega projects will be started for every city and area of southern Punjab after the elections,” he said.