Shahbaz for ruthless Ehtesab to discourage loot and plunder

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday said every penny will be recovered from those who had looted the country ruthlessly and committed dacoity on the national wealth so that they could know about the logical end of looting the hard-earned money of the poor nation.

He said this while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Kahna Flyover constructed on Kahna Kacha Defence Road Railway Crossing here. He said it was amazing that those involved in corruption were raising the slogan of accountability (Ehtesab). “These people should first peep into their conscience.”

He said Pakistan was created after supreme sacrifices and the Muslims have dreamt that they will get everything along with independence in the country but unfortunately, loot, plunder, and corruption did not give the people their right. 

He said that when Muslims sacrificed all their belongings and migrated to Pakistan then situation was very miserable and they are facing the same situation today due to different reasons. The chief minister said innocent people were dying in terrorism. He said the elites were leading a luxurious life while the children of the common man were still deprived of education and health facilities. 

He said the time had come for holding those accountable who had looted the country and deposited the national wealth in Swiss banks or purchased properties in Dubai.  He said it is the voice of the nation that those who looted the country should not be forgiven at any cost. 

He said the 1.5-km flyover had been constructed in a record period and R3 billion national exchequer had been saved through private investment in this public welfare project.  This is the first project constructed through private investment on BOT basis under public-private partnership in the province, he added. 

The contractor has carried out work on the project speedily and completed it before the stipulated period as a result of which the best communication facilities will become available to the people of the area. 

Shahbaz said Rs3 billion saved in this project will be spent on education, health, potable water and improvement of other social sectors.  “This model will be forwarded as it is the best model which will be promoted,” he added.

He announced reducing the toll of flyover for vehicles from Rs35 to Rs30 and said no toll fee will be charged from the people of the area and they will be issued free passes.  The flyover is 100-feet wide and consists of two lanes and 9,000 vehicles will daily pass from here. 

Six feet wide footpaths have also been constructed on both sides for the pedestrians. Defence Road is an important link road between Multan Road, Raiwind Road, Ferozepur Road and DHA.  Due to movement of trains on main line of Pakistan Railway, the gates of this railway crossing are often closed as a result of which the traffic has to wait for a long time. With the construction of this flyover, time of commuters and vehicles will be saved.

The chief minister congratulated the people of the area, former LDA DG Ahad Cheema, current DG Nabeel Javed, Lahore Commissioner Division Lahore, DCO and other institutions concerned on completion of the flyover in a record period.

Shahbaz said at a time when the country had been put on the road to progress and prosperity, some opponents are out to stop this journey and want to hinder development through sit-ins but they should peep into their conscience.