LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has reviewed proposals regarding implementation of programme for the construction of new classrooms in schools of the province.

Addressing a meeting held here on Wednesday, the chief minister said the Punjab government would construct thousands of additional classrooms in schools with a sum ofRs28 billion within two years.

According to a handout, the chief minister said that more than 10,000 new classrooms would be constructed in the schools at a cost of Rs15 billion during the current financial year.

Mr Shahbaz said that new classrooms would be constructed on a priority basis in schools of south Punjab districts.

He said that the construction of new classrooms would also increase enrollment in schools.

The chief minister said the mega programme was a useful investment for equipping the youth with education and better educational facilities would become availableto girls and boys with the construction of new classrooms.

He directed the authorities concerned to complete a third-party audit of the survey of schools regarding construction of additional rooms, saying that an effective monitoring system would be evolved for the implementation of the programme.

He said that commissioners, DCOs and assistant commissioners would be responsible for monitoring of this programme at the divisional, district and tehsil levels.

He said the provision of missing facilities would be ensured on a priority basis in schools where addi-tional rooms would be constructed.

The chief minister said that no compromise would be made regarding implementation of the programme and ensuring high standard would be the responsibility of the departments concerned.

Mr Shahbaz said that he would personally monitor implementation of the mega programme and review progress regularly.

Provincial ministers Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Tanvir Aslam Malik, chief secretary, Planning and Development chairman, secretaries of departments concerned and senior officials attended the meeting.