LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is a constitutional body and it has the authority to investigate corruption. However, people (government officials) would stop rendering selfless services and performing their duties honestly if it (NAB) would continue vilifying all of them without distinguishing between good and bad persons.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the CT Scan Centre and Hepatitis Filter Clinic at the District Headquarters Hospital, Sheikhupura, on Sunday.
He said: “We respect it (NAB) and cherish the rule of law. That is why I myself appeared in the NAB office.
“However, it should also fulfil its responsibility, not only by pointing out wrong deeds but also appreciating the good works of the public servants, so that people could come to know about it.”
In response to a question, the CM said that good officers should be praised for their efficient works, and the corrupt ones should be taken to task.
In response to another question, he said the Punjab government had taken exemplary measures in the health sector. Several new hospitals have been constructed to provide people with the latest treatment facilities. He said patients with liver diseases would no longer have to go abroad for treatment, and they would be treated free-of-cost at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Transplant Institute. This is a revolution that we have brought about in the health sector, he added. Similarly, facilities are being improved at basic health centres, he added. The CM also visited both centres afterwards. He inspected CT scan machine and had a conversation with the staff.
The CM was informed that about 80 patients visit the clinic daily, who were being provided with medicines and free treatment. Secretary Primary & Secondary Healthcare Ali Jan briefed the CM about CT Scan Centre and Hepatitis Filter Clinic.
The CM said that during the last four-and-a-half years, 26 hospitals at the secondary level and 15 at primary level have been set up and 8,000 beds added to the government hospitals. Through mobile hospitals, treatment and diagnostic facilities were being provided to patients in remote areas. Twenty mobile hospitals had become functional while as many more were being set up in near future, he added. He said that 180 operation theatres had been constructed in the hospitals while 452 ventilators installed on the beds. In the same manner, five MRI machines had been installed. He said that four state-of-the-art Burn Centres had also become functional in the province.
Meanwhile, the chief minister visited the Bhikki gas power plant also. He said electricity projects had been completed at a fast pace during the PML-N era, while the opponents had only plundered the national resources ruthlessly in the name of power projects. He regretted that people’s wealth was looted in the name of development projects during the previous government. He inspected various parts of the power plant and was briefed about it.
The CM said the PML-N government in Punjab had constructed 3,600-MW gas power plants with its own resources. Due to these plants, loadshedding had been eliminated, he added. He said that cheaper electricity was being produced from gas power plants. The CM said the PML-N’s opponents were telling lies only as they could not generate even one megawatt electricity in their provinces. General Electric and officials of Harbin Electric International China, Secretary Energy and Commissioner Lahore division were also present on the occasion.
In a statement, CM Shahbaz Sharif expressed his deep sense of sorrow and grief over the death of labourers in a mine caving accident at Tilla Jogiyan in Jhelum. While consoling the bereaved families, the CM sought a report from commissioner Rawalpindi division in this regard. He ordered a probe into the incident and expediting the rescue and relief operation for the victims. The chief minister returned to Pakistan from London early on Sunday. He had gone there for a medical check-up, and also visited Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.
Shahbaz Sharif also met British Interior Minister and Minister of International Development in London.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also welcomed the West Indies cricket team in Pakistan. He said its arrival had opened the doors of international cricket on Pakistan. He said that successful arrangements for PSL matches in Lahore and Karachi cleared the way for international cricket in Pakistan.