LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Sunday said drainage projects had significantly improved the situation during the monsoon, with rainwater that previously remained stagnant for days, weeks or even months now being drained within hours.
She expressed these views during a meeting with Punjab Assembly members from Vehari — Muhammad Yousaf Kaseela, Malik Nosheer Anjum Langrial, Mian Muhammad Saqib Khurshid and Muhammad Naeem Akhtar Khan Bhabbha — who discussed political affairs, development projects and public welfare initiatives with her.
The chief minister said the Punjab Development Programme had, for the first time, introduced a culture of uniform development across the province.
“By the grace of Allah Almighty, the situation has improved significantly during the current monsoon due to drainage projects. Rainwater that used to remain stagnant for days, weeks and months is now drained within hours,” she said. The MPAs thanked the chief minister for transforming the five-decade-old, dilapidated Vehari-Multan Road into a modern dual-carriageway expressway.
They described the project as a milestone for the development of the region and said it had received an overwhelmingly positive response from the public. They added that millions of passengers from four districts were benefiting from the road every day.
The lawmakers also thanked Maryam Nawaz for launching the electric bus service in Vehari, saying the service between Vehari, Burewala and Tibba Sultanpur had provided a modern and affordable transport facility to residents. They particularly appreciated the provision of free travel for students, women and senior citizens.
The MPAs said development projects worth around Rs21 billion had been launched in the tehsils of Vehari, Burewala and Mailsi for the first time in the area’s history. They also highlighted the beautification of Vehari Rail Bazaar, describing it as a step towards transforming the city’s urban landscape. The chief minister said serving the people was a tradition she had inherited from PML-N leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
She said the construction of the Vehari-Multan Road was the right of the people of the area and thanked Allah Almighty for enabling the government to fulfil that responsibility. Maryam Nawaz said farmers in south Punjab were benefiting from the Kisan Card, while students were receiving laptops and Honhaar Scholarships.The meeting also discussed development projects and public welfare schemes being implemented in Vehari and other parts of south Punjab.
