Zardari, Niazi devoid of public service spirit: Shahbaz

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said both Niazi and Zardari were devoid of the spirit of public service and had done nothing for the people in their respective provinces.

He was talking to federal ministers, lawmakers and PML-N leaders who called on him Thursday. They reposed their confidence in his leadership and discussed different matters with him including political situation and development schemes.

The chief minister said the credit of ensuring composite development in cities, towns and villages went to the PML-N. On the other hand, he added, nation’s time was wasted by lying and staging sit-ins. “The claimants of change have defaced the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said and added that the poor condition of Karachi, which was once the city of lights, made everyone saddened. The journey of public service would be moved further after achieving success in the upcoming elections, said the chief minister.

Those who called on Shahbaz included Federal Minister for Water Resources Javed Ali Shah, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed, Minister of State for Inter-provincial Coordination Dr Darshan, M Bhandara MNA, Muhammad Khan Daha MNA, Haji Irfan Ahmed Daha and Dr Umer Zafar Jhagra.

On the other hand, the provincial cabinet approved amendment in the Registration Act, 1908 to regulate and supervise the deed writing profession and to the amendments in Punjab Fisheries Ordinance, 1961 and Fisheries Act, 1999 along with provision of land for 640MW Azad Pattan Hydro Project.

The meeting chaired by the chief minister also approved long-term investment under Punjab General Provident Investment Fund Act, 2009. It was decided that agri-marketing reforms should be initiated along with approval of Punjab Agriculture Marketing Regulatory Authority Act, 2018.

The cabinet also approved the draft of an amendment bill for introducing proposed amendments in 1992’s Act of forced labour. Moreover, the performance reports of Daanish Schools and the Centres of Excellence Authority for 2010-14 were fully appreciated by the participants.