LAHORE(National Times)- Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has given in-principle approval to allocate Rs50 million for development projects in every village across the province under the Khushhal Dehat Programme.

Under the first phase of the initiative, development work will be carried out in 475 villages, while an allocation of Rs23.85 billion has also been approved for the programme.

It was decided that village development projects would be completed through Khushhal Dehat Committees, headed by the respective Additional Deputy Commissioner for Social Services.

Each committee will comprise five government and four private-sector members, with the relevant union council chairman and sub-engineer also included.

Maryam Nawaz has directed authorities to release the first instalment of grants to the committees by November. She has also sought a development plan for 2,000 villages under the programme’s second phase.

The chief minister said her vision was to ensure paved streets and an organised sewerage system in every village across Punjab.

She maintained that development would be carried out equally in urban and rural areas, adding that political affiliations would not be allowed to hinder development initiatives.

Maryam Nawaz said development programmes and solutions to public problems were the right of every area of Punjab, and all communities would be included in the province’s development journey.