Socioeconomic inequality hampering development: Shahbaz

Says both political govts, dictatorships did not come up to nation’s expectations; local govts important pillar of democratic system but dictators used them to prolong their rule

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday termed socioeconomic inequality as a major hurdle in development of the country.

“Pakistan will not progress unless and until the children of poor and the rich don’t get equal rights and identical opportunities,” the chief minister said, adding that everyone should have equal rights and opportunities.

Shahbaz expressed these views in his keynote address to the participants of the 106th National Management Course who called on him at Model Town. “During the 70 years, we have more failures than successes. If Pakistan is lagging behind then no single person is responsible. The responsibility lies on all of us,” he noted.

The chief minister added that everyone – including politicians, generals, judges, bureaucracy and social elite –did not do justice to Pakistan. “Whether there were political governments or it was dictatorship, no one came up to the expectations of the nation.”

He told the delegation that their role was very much pivotal in dealing with different challenges being faced by the country. To a question, the chief minister said local government system was the best mechanism to solve the people’s problems at grass-root level and an important pillar of democratic system.

“Unfortunately, the dictators used these bodies to prolong their tenures and the Musharraf regime is the worst example of it,” said the chief minister, adding that the local governments were used for personal gains without ensuring effective monitoring and system of check and balance.

He said the PML-N government had given an effective local government system, empowering these institutions through the provision of sufficient resources and improving their capacity building.

Listing the achievements of his government, Shahbaz said unprecedented steps had been taken to improve the quality of life for rural population, including construction and rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads, improvement in healthcare through introduction of mobile hospitals and other steps and the programme for clean water supply.

He hoped that provision of means of livelihood to the rural population at their doorsteps would help discouraging urbanisation; however, more practical steps were required to achieve the goal.

The chief minister especially mentioned computerisation of land record in rural areas and said Land Record Information Management System had eliminated corruption, forgery, fraud and more importantly the patwari culture.

Replying to a question, he said all the political governments, institutions and the whole nation were unanimous in making Pakistan a nuclear power. Shahbaz, however, lamented that although Pakistan was a nuclear power but the desired targets in health, education and other social sectors had not been achieved due to nepotism, corruption, non-professional approach and lack of commitment.

Answering another question, he said lack of nutrition in children was a big challenge which had been ignored in the past. The Punjab government had taken effective steps in collaboration with the World Bank, he added.

National School of Public Policy Rector Azmat Ali Ranjha, National Management College Dean Naeem Aslam and others were also present on the occasion. Meanwhile, talking to the MPAs belonging to Bahawalpur division who called on him today, Shahbaz said Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Program has brought a revolution in rural lifestyle and said such a splendid project was never made in 70 years history of the country.

During the meeting, budget proposals, public peace, development schemes, wheat procurement campaign and Ramadan Package came under discussion. He said record funds have been allocated for development schemes and added energy projects are being executed throughout the country. 

He said a new world has been settled with the installation of energy projects in the desert of Bahawalpur while Sahiwal Coal Power Project which is the biggest coal project and first CPEC project is generating 1320-MW electricity. He said credit of completing this project in a record period of 22 months goes to the efforts and hard work. He said effective steps have been taken for purging the country of terrorism and extremism and Pak Army, police, officers of security institutions, youth, children and the citizens have rendered sacrifices in the war against terrorism. He said Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad is moving forward against the enemies of Pakistan. 

He said Rs 65 billion have been spent on program of construction of rural roads. He said Rs 17 billion have been earmarked for this program in the budget. He said interest free loans are being given to small farmers and a mega program of Saaf Pani is being launched from all tehsils of Punjab. Shahbaz said Rs 25 billion have been allocated for this program in the budget. He said four European companies and a Japanese company are conducting survey of the entire area. He said that a grand road has been constructed at cost of billions of rupees from Bahawalpur to Hasilpur while work has been started on the project of construction of dual road from Khanewal to Lodhran. The chief minister announced to give astroturf for promoting hockey in Bahawalpur and directed Secretary Schools Education to visit Cholistan and resolve problems of schools there. He said those doing good work are our heroes while accountability will be held on poor performance. 

The MPAs thanked Shahbaz on taking personal interest in development of south Punjab. Provincial ministers Iqbal Channer, MNAs Ch Shafique, Hamza Shahbaz and administrative and police officers were present on the occasion.