Says ready for any sacrifice for metro train
LAHORE
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that criticism and allegations against Orange Line Metro Train Project are baseless and a pack of lies. He said that only those elements are criticising this public welfare project who spend their vacation in Europe and never travel with the common man.
He said that a handful of elites opposing Orange Line Metro Train project would automatically become silent with the completion of this project. Shahbaz Sharif promised with the people that he would stand as a rock against those who were creating hurdles in this project of public welfare and would risk his life but not allow anyone to usurp the right of people. He said that he was ready to make any sacrifice in this war against the opponents of Orange Line Metro Train and other projects of public welfare. He said that criticism on Orange Line Metro Train was a conspiracy against the welfare and uplift of the people and such elements would face the wrath of the masses. He said his only difference with elite was that they were opposing projects aimed at the welfare of the poor and deprive them of the fruits of prosperity.
He said that if these elements give up their unfriendly attitude to the common man, he was ready to accept their every demand but if they did not do so he would prove to be their biggest enemy. He said that no one would be allowed to usurp the right of the people and he was ready to go to any extreme in this regard. He said that Orange Line Metro Train project would be completed at any cost.
He was addressing a special seminar with regard to Orange Line Metro Train project at Expo Centre Auditorium, here Tuesday. The chief minister said that Orange Line Metro Train would be more reliable than metro bus and would result in provision of safe, dignified and economical transport facilities to the masses. He said that with the completion of Orange Line Metro Train project, the unnecessary and unjustified criticism of a handful of elites would also come to an end. He said that only those people were opposing Orange Line Metro Train project whose children travel by luxurious vehicles worth millions of rupees. He said these elements were also telling lies that this project would affect historical heritage as they had never visited any historical site in the country and went to Europe and other countries along with their dogs to spend their vacation.
He said that a handful of elites were opposing development projects for the poor as they did not want that the poor should avail better facilities. He said the elements criticising development projects were enemies of the children of the poor. He said that if the child of an elite falls ill, he reaches the hospital in his car within five minutes but if the child of the poor goes to hospital by metro bus or metro train it was intolerable for the elites.
He said that in 2010, Punjab faced the worst outbreak of dengue, he reduced the fee of dengue test from Rs400 to Rs90 but this elites went to the court but it gave its decision in favour of the masses and dengue test fee was maintained at Rs90. He said that the delay in Orange Line Metro Train project was causing a loss of Rs60 million daily and Pakistan was not an oil or gas rich country and could not bear this loss.
Shahbaz Sharif said that he had full confidence in judiciary and it would give its decision in accordance with the demands of merit and justice. He said that Orange Line Metro Train was a splendid gift of the Chinese government for the people of Pakistan as China was completely funding this project. He said that the funds given for the project were to be repaid within 20 years and the first installment was to be given after seven years of completion of metro train project. Shahbaz Sharif said that the project would not damage or affect cultural heritage rather the Punjab government had allocated a sum of Rs100 million for conservation and renovation of culture heritage. He said another important element of the project was that first time civil works had been assigned to Pakistani companies. Addressing the seminar, Kh Ahmed Hasaan highlighted the importance of orange line metro train project. He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, before general elections, had said in a meeting that he had no desire to become prime minister but if this responsibility was given to him he would serve the masses to earn blessings of Allah. He said that orange line metro train and other projects reflected this philosophy. He said that Shahbaz Sharif was implementing this vision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He said that when the people are asleep, Khadim-e-Aala remains awake and keeps an eye on public welfare projects. He said that Shahbaz Sharif is writing a new history of public service. Chairman Mass Transit Authority Sibtain Fazal Haleem informed about the salient features of orange line metro train project.
livestock: Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan is the 10th biggest country with regard to livestock production and there is a lot of potential in livestock sector in the country. He said that the volume of livestock trade in the world is $1,000 billion but Pakistan’ share in this trade is almost negligible. He said that it is a food for thought for policy-makers, scientists andlivestock experts of Sindh, Punjab, KP, Balochistan and the whole country. He said that the national economy can be strengthened through development of livestock and there is a need for practical measures in this regard.
The chief minister said that a state-of-the-art slaughterhouse had been set up in provincial metropolis but it was lamentable that it had not been fully utilised. He said that national economy could be revived by increasing trade of Halal products. He said that law had been prepared in this regard and the bill would soon be presented in the Punjab Assembly.
He expressed these views while addressing the inaugural ceremony of 5thInternational Halal conference and a exhibition at a local hotel, here Tuesday.
Shahbaz Sharif said it was honour for him to attend Halal Food conference and he welcomed foreign and local delegates. He said that experts of China were also attending the conference. He said that holding of conference was a commendable effort of Punjab Halal Development Agency. He said that useful recommendations would come forward in the conference for increasing Halal products and an opportunity would be given to benefit from the experience of friendly countries. He said that holding of the conference was praiseworthy but there was a need to take practical measures to increase the share of Pakistan in the trade of Halal products and development of livestock sector. He said that there was culture of Gao Mata in India but still it was exporting tons of Halal meat to Malaysia.
He said that the government had set up a state-of-the-art slaughterhouse in Lahore but efforts to increase export of Halal food had failed which was a matter of concern. He said there was a lot of potential in livestock sector in Pakistan and there was a need to benefit from it. He said that instead of lamenting the past mistakes it was time to move forward with commitment and determination to develop livestock sector and increase Pakistan’s share in the business of Halal products. He said there was also a big demand for Halal food in China.
The chief minister said that energy crisis had affected agriculture, industries, livestock and other sectors but it would be overcome with the efforts being made by the government. On the other hand, he said that no work had been done for the development of Livestock Sector. He said that it should be a point to be considered by politicians, government officers and livestock experts. He said that negligence of institutions concerned with development of livestock sector and increasing experts of Halal products was lamentable. He expressed the hope that in the light of recommendations of the conference, practical measures would be adopted for expanding the business of livestock and Halal food.
Malaysian Minister of State Haji Abdul Mulk congratulated the Punjab government and organisers on the holding of conference. He said that Pakistan was a super power with regard to Halal products and it should contribute its share to the business of Halal products. He said that legislation regarding Halal products was of vital importance; otherwise availability of Halal products and services was not possible. He said that Pakistani government especially the Punjab government had undertaken legislation in this regard which was commendable.
Chairman Punjab Halal Development Agency Justice (R) Khalil-ur-Rehman while presenting address of welcome highlighted aims and objectives of Halal conference and exhibition. He said that the purpose of arranging the conference was to promote halal industry and trade. He said that Pakistan Muslim League-N government had enforced Pakistan Halal Authority Act at the federal level and a bill had been prepared in this regard in the province which would soon be presented in Punjab Assembly. He said that this legislation would ensure supply of Halal items to the masses.
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Vice-Chancellor while addressing the conference said that a special programme had been started for the training of butchers with regard to Halal products and speedy progress was being made for utilising the potential in livestock sector. Later, the chief minister inaugurated the 5th International Halal Conference and exhibition and also inspected different stalls.