Change would have come had Swatis not been lured by PTI: Nawaz

MINGORA: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Friday said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province would have witnessed a real change had the people of Swat not been lured into the false promise of change.

Speaking at the Grassy Ground here after inaugurating the Nawaz Sharif Kidney Hospital in Sangota, he said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were becoming increasingly discontented with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government, as it had failed to bring about any change in the province.

Nawaz said he could not notice any change in Swat, as he saw dilapidated roads, ruined schools and other infrastructure from the helicopter."It's a matter of fate that some are constructing roads while others are protesting on those roads," he said. He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa people were regretting voting the PTI into power.

Nawaz said he was informed on way to Swat that the incumbent government's performance would not only help the PML-N win elections in Swat, but also his party's candidates would win in Peshawar.

He said the PML-N candidate's victory in the by-election in Peshawar showed that the people wanted a real change now. He also announced a motorway and expressway for Swat, establishment of women university's sub-campus, technical institute and 133-kilometer motorway from Chakdarra to Kalam.

He also announced a university campus for Shangla district and Rs200 million each for district councils in Shangla and Swat. He said Saidu Sharif Airport would be made functional and a road from Bisham to Khwazakhela would also be constructed.

Nawaz Sharif added that some leaders criticised him for constructing roads.

"Roads are key to the development of the country and I will not stop building more roads," he said, adding, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would usher in a new era of development in the region. About the Nawaz Sharif Kidney Hospital in Sangota, he said the hospital would have international standard facilities.

He said the hospital where people would get free treatment was a gift from the Punjab government for the people of Swat. He thanked Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for constructing the hospital in the district.

 Overwhelmed by the massive crowd, Nawaz Sharif raised the slogans of “Jeeo Mangora, Jeeo Swat and Jeeo KP” again and again.  The huge crowd waved the green PML-N flags and continued to raise slogans throughout the meeting. 

Nawaz also waved to the crowd which responded with cheers. The rendezvous of the public meeting was jam-packed and people had to stay outside the large ground. A large number of people were listening from the rooftops of their houses. The prime minister said the large enthusiastic crowd was a proof that the promised "change" has not come. 

He however assured the people that the PML-N would bring a real change in their lives. He regretted that no improvement in the condition of the roads, hospitals, schools bereft of any modern amenities is visible in the province despite tall claims.  He said the PML-N had won a seat in Peshawar by an overwhelmingly majority.