Country to take off again under Shehbaz: Nawaz

LAHORE: PMLN President and former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Monday expressed hope that Pakistan would take off once again and acknowledged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s efforts to change the nation’s destiny.

He expressed these views while speaking to the Punjab Assembly Members from Lahore Division. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was also present on the occasion. Matters pertaining to the public welfare projects and future political strategies came under discussion.

Nawaz noted that after a long time, he saw the faces of the people of Punjab, particularly of the residents of Lahore, kindled with happiness and satisfaction. He thanked Allah Almighty for giving his party an opportunity to serve the masses wholeheartedly once again adding, “Our journey to serve the masses will continue unabated.”

He added that Allah Almighty had enabled the incumbent government to put the country on the path of swift progress and prosperity. He said Allah Almighty had saved the country from getting derailed and falling into a pit adding that he had seen many ups and downs in his life.

Nawaz underscored that whenever the PMLN came into power, the country made a rapid progress. He said if Pakistan had not been derailed and the journey of the 1990s had continued, the country would have been much ahead in terms of development and progress. He said reduction in inflation had given the general public a sigh of relief.

He added that the policy rate cut from 22 to 12 percent was a sign of positive economic improvement. The participants paid tribute to Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s efforts for undertaking the public welfare projects.

These projects include Suthra Punjab, Kisan Card, Green Tractor Scheme, modern agricultural machinery, Honhaar Scholarship program, construction and rehabilitation of roads, Dhee Rani program, upgradation of basic and rural health centres along with revamping the entire health system in the province.

The assembly members acknowledged that every sector of the province was moving towards progress and development in a short span of one year and termed Maryam Nawaz the pride of Punjab.

They said Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz Sharif had set a new bright example of Pakistan’s development, progress and public service. They said the traditions of both Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif were being carried out in an unprecedented and remarkable manner.

They further commented that whenever the PMLN came into power, the country attained development, progress and prosperity in every sector.

They further said Maryam Nawaz had initiated an exemplary precedent of reforming the governance system by introducing a transparent system of e-tendering.

Addressing the assembly members, Maryam said, “Whenever the names of Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif come up, we have to set an example of public service.”

She added, “By the grace of Allah Almighty, Nawaz Sharif is the name of Pakistan’s development, and we are all his soldiers.”

Senior party leaders Senator Pervez Rashid, Rana Sanaullah, Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, and Rashid Nasrullah were also present. Samiullah Khan, Ghazali Saleem Butt, Muhammad Riaz, Mujtaba Shuja-ur- Rehman, Khawaja Imran Nazir, Sohail Shaukat Butt, Malik Muhammad Waheed, Khawaja Salman Rafique, Malik Ghulam Habib Awan, Chaudhry Muhammad Nawaz, Malik Asad Ali Khokhar, Malik Shahbaz Ali Khokhar, Imran Javed, Rana Rashid Minhas, Muhammad Anas Mehmood, Irfan Shafi Khokhar, Bilal Yasin, Marghoob Ahmed, and Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar also participated in the meeting.

Meanwhile, on the chief minister’s direction, a special project has been launched to provide assistive devices to the differently-abled persons in the province in order to bring ease and comfort in their lives. Applications are being received under the project.

Maryam said, “Wheelchairs will be provided free of cost to the special persons to facilitate their movement.” “Special hearing aids will be provided to the hearing-impaired people, which will increase the hearing and speaking ability of special people. Applications for the assistive devices can be submitted online from home through an online portal adwc.punjab.gov.pk, for which the CNIC of the disabled person, a form and a disability certificate issued by the District Disability Assessment Board will be required.”

Maryam said the potential applicants could also call a dedicated helpline 1312 for seeking the needed information, adding, “Guidelines and information can also be obtained from the district offices of social welfare in the respective districts.”

The chief minister directed rehabilitation of the people affected by the anti-encroachment drive. She directed restoration of small businesses affected during the drive. She directed the relevant stakeholders to review the measures for rehabilitation of small businesses and vendors.