LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Wednesday approved the establishment of a Safari Park in Dera Ghazi Khan over an area of 500 acres.

At the Safari Park, one large and four small enclosures, children’s park and other necessary facilities will be provided to the visitors.

The chief minister directed immediate launch of tree plantation in the park adding that this project be operationalised as soon as possible to provide quality recreational facilities to the people of south Punjab.

He said people of south Punjab had limited opportunities for recreation and this area was kept backwards in the past with regard to development as well as recreational facilities. The safari park project would provide best recreational facilities to the people, he added.

Punjab Wildlife and Fisheries Minister Asad Khokhar, secretaries of finance, forests, wildlife and fisheries departments, Dera Ghazi wildlife and others attended the meeting.

RANGERS: Punjab Rangers Director-General Maj-Gen Aamir Majeed called on Mr Buzdar.

The chief minister paid rich tributes to the services rendered by Rangers for maintaining peace as well as protection of boundaries and added that nation was proud of brave rangers, who played the role of a valiant vanguard for maintaining peace.

WOMEN CHAMBER: A delegation of Bahawalpur Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by president Sherry Arshad Khan, called on Mr Buzdar.

The chief minister said women’s participation in the industrial process would strengthen the economy.

He said development of the industrial sector had been fully focused by the government and six special economic zones were being established in the province. Four more special economic zones would be notified soon and it was for the first time that SEZs were being established in backward districts. The comprehensive industrial development policy was bearing positive fruit, he added.

The chief minister said a programme had been devised to provide soft loans to the youth and women had also been included in it. The loan conditions had been eased more for the women. He said the office of Punjab Board of Investment and Trade would also be established in south Punjab.

Meanwhile, instructions have been issued to release funds for bone marrow transplant centre in Bahawal Victoria Hospital in Bahawalpur. The industrial development will boost employment opportunities in south Punjab.

The problems being faced by the Bahawalpur Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry will be solved on priority basis and opening of its sub-office in Lahore will be examined as well. The chief minister welcomed the proposal of holding Rohi Mela in Bahawalpur and assured all our cooperation as such carnivals help in the promotion of local handicrafts.

He asked the businesswomen to take benefit of investment opportunities as conducive environment is provided for trade and investment. Ms Khan said that it is a matter of pride for them that Chief Minister Usman Buzdar belongs to southern Punjab.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2020