GUJRAT, Nov 18: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has approved only Rs400 million as uplift package for the entire district of Gujrat.

The district administration with the consent of the ruling party’s local lawmakers had sought approval to various mega projects worth Rs4 billion. Approval of the funds was disclosed at a meeting of the district development committee on Monday comprising local legislators and district government officials.

The meeting was presided over by PML-N MNA Jaafar Iqbal and attended by MNAs Nawabzada Mazhar Ali, Abid Raza Kotla, MPAs Malik Haneef Awan, Haji Imran Zafar, Ashraf Deona, Moin Nawaz Warraich, Mian Tariq Dinga, Shabeer Raza, Gujrat DCO Asif Bilal Lodhi and other government officials.

The DCO told the participants the CM had approved Rs400 million for various uplift schemes of health, education, sewerage, water supply and road construction in the district.

He said the legislators would identify the schemes that needed funds in their respective constituencies. He said a Rs10 million grant would also be provided separately for other uplift schemes proposed by the legislators.

Earlier, the district administration with consultation of PML-N lawmakers had proposed some mega uplift schemes and sought a package of Rs4 billion. The CM had asked his party people and the administration to propose schemes of public interest.

However, it was learnt the CM did not approve the amount sought which disappointed the party workers here since they had been expecting ‘help’ for their constituencies.

DCO Lodhi told Dawn any scheme being proposed by the legislators would not be worth more than Rs40 to R50 million and would then be presented to the Punjab government for approval. A government committee would first inspect the site and check feasibility report before giving a formal approval.