Harnessing South Punjab potential for scoio-economic uplift.

MULTAN -- Uniformity in dispensation of basic amenities and socio-economic development is basic right of people in every country regardless of urban rural and caste and creed divides.

Rulers and policy makers keep these obligations in sight when formulating plans and defining projects to ensure equitable progress of their people and providing level playing field for all stakeholders mattering for economic stability.

But despite efforts this uniformity lacks in most of the countries and Pakistan is also not en exception to this phenomenon. Many of its remote and far flung areas lag behind in development activities thus making people suffer in these regions as compared to those living in developed areas.

Country's South Punjab region comprising 11 districts and hosting 35 million population is also an example even last 15 years efforts for socio-economic uplift, Human Development Index (HDI) could not come at par with developed areas.

No doubt that Former Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani during his tenure (2013-18) initiated projects like eight flyovers in Multan city, Multan International Airport, Head Muhammadwala Bridge, Jalalpur Pirwala Bridge, COMSATS University Vehari and many more projects.

Similarly, former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif led federal government and the then Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif during 2018-23 facilitated South Punjab people with Metro Bus Service, Shahbaz Sharif Hospital, Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture and University of Engineering.

Then PTI government followed the suit by starting work on South Punjab Secretariat. An Additional Chief Secretary was deputed in the region and offices of 16 provincial ministries were established in Multan and Bahawalpur.

Work on Nishtar-II and Mother and Child Care Hospitals in different cities was also started although residents feel there much more was needed to be done.

'Despite all these initiatives, the region is still backward and requires many more uplift projects to bring it at par with developed parts of the province,' said Chairman Young Pakistanis Organization (NGO), Naeem Iqbal Naeem.

'The government should focus more on health, education, agriculture and livestock to improve living standards of people in the region,' he stated. 'Our region also lags behind in terms of industrialization with having only 15% industry and employing 17% local people.'

According to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report issued during February 2022...