Sees progress despite hurdles created by sit-ins;
govt following a roadmap of economic revolution
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday said despite the hurdles created by sit-ins, progress on the programme of progress and prosperity had been made.
He said the previous governments plundered the national resources ruthlessly, while the so-called change-mongers had tried to derail the country by conspiring against development but sensible people failed their conspiracy. Had such hurdles not been created, the development rate would have been much better, the chief minister claimed.
Talking to the party parliamentarians from the Rawalpindi Division at the Punjab House, Islamabad, he said results of by-elections were a proof of the public trust in the PML-N and its policies.
He directed the public representatives and party leaders to focus on public service instead of embroiling in political confrontation, according to the expectations of national leadership.
Shahbaz said the PML-N government was striving for progress and prosperity of the country and that’s why the federal government had presented public-friendly development-oriented budget. He said mega projects would benefit the people, adding the government was following a roadmap of economic revolution.
The chief minister cited the completion of energy projects resulting in increased power generation and said law and order situation had improved and terrorism was being overcome due to the sacrifices of police, army and other law enforcement agencies.
Shahbaz cited bringing prosperity in the life of common man as the main focus and said establishing infrastructure on modern lines had resulted in record investment. He added that huge amount of funds had been allocated for enhancing health, education, communication facilities, law and order, smooth flow of traffic and sports facilities for Rawalpindi.
He said safe city project would be launched in Rawalpindi, Multan, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur for which funds had been earmarked. For providing relief to the people, the chief minister said, 318 Ramazan Bazaars had been set up throughout the province along with the Rs9 billion Ramazan package.
Decrease in the prices of fertilizers and interest free loans had benefited small farmers, he noted. He said for the first time in the 70 years history of Pakistan, billions of rupees had been saved from development projects which were further used for other schemes.
He said CT scan machines and quality medicines were being provided to all the DHQ hospitals in Punjab. The chief minister said international organisations were listing Pakistan among the developing economic powers, which was a proof of the government’s four-year performance.
Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar briefed the meeting on the law and order situation and the steps taken to improve security. During the meeting, the federal and provincial ministers and legislators presented recommendations for the Punjab budget. Meanwhile, Shahbaz has strongly condemned the worst state terrorism by Indian forces in Occupied Kashmir.
Expressing profound feeling of distress over the latest martyrdom of Kashmiris, the chief minister said the Indian forces had crossed every limit. He said the oppressive measures adopted by the Indian forces could not deter the people of Jammu and Kashmir from demanding their right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions. Earlier in Lahore, the chief minister awarded appreciation certificates and cash prizes to the legal team and other officials of the Forest Department.
