LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed the authorities to swiftly shift 20,000 schools to solar energy under `Khadim-i-Punjab Ujala Programme`.

In the first phase, the programme is being initiated from south Punjab where over 10,000 schools will benefit from it.

The chief minister said shifting of schools to solar energy was a unique and remarkable programme which would provide conducive learning environment to students.

The energy department secretary told the meeting that the best companies had come up for executing the project.

The chief minister alsochaired a meeting on clean drinking water and sought its completion within the stipulated period.

SAAD RAFIQUE: Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has asked the US not to consider Pakistan as Afghanistan.

`The US should not consider Pakistan as Afghanistan. The US president has no right to criticse Pakistan on war against terror. Mr Trump did not value the sacrifices of Pakistanis and the US is responsible for destabilising Pakistan, he said here on Sunday.

He said all state institutions and political parties were on the same page on the Pak-US relations.Staff Reporter