PPP, PML-N not honest for south Punjab province: Qureshi

MULTAN: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf senior vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-N are not honest to create south Punjab province but PTI is very much committed to create a separate administrative unit.

Talking to media men here on Monday, he said both the parties were in power in centre and Punjab but they avoided creating south Punjab province due to their hypocritical politics. He said PTI had clearly declared creation of south Punjab administrative unit in 100 days of coming into power. Qureshi said the PPP and the PML-N had dodged the people of Pakistan in the name of south Punjab province. “It is very much clear that critical problems of the south Punjab people would remain unsolved until the creation of separate province,” he added.

Qureshi said the PTI had been a staunch advocate of strong Federation. “We want strengthening of the Federation, which is quite impossible until the new administrative units are not created.” He criticised pathetic development work in Multan, which had been exposed when a Speedo bus fell into a sinkhole. The bus incident has raised fingers on the quality of work.

He said Rs70 billion had been spent on Multan metro bus, which was not necessary. On the other hand, people want health facilities and educational institutions but the Punjab government did not address these issues properly. The PML-N has been ruling the Punjab since long but people were unable to find purified drinking water, he claimed.

The PTI leader said a large number of PPP and PML-N workers, ticket holders and lawmakers were in contact with the PTI and waiting for their turn to join the party. The announcement of more PPP, PML-N leaders, and lawmakers would be made at a suitable time. “Our party has become the most popular party at this time,” he added.

Nishtar medical varsity promulgates KEMU rules: The Nishtar Medical University (NMU) Syndicate has decided promulgating the King Edward Medical University (KEMU) rules, approved teaching and supporting staff rules, and also sanctioned Rs3 million for waste management. The third meeting of the NMU Syndicate was held here on Monday with Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Suleman Rafiq in the chair.

The syndicate has also approved the university registration, X-post fictive sanctions and pending affairs. A number of administrative affairs were also approved in the meeting. Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Suleman Rafiq said the government was taking revolutionary measures to upgrade the health infrastructure.

The government was increasing the seats in the medical colleges to accommodate maximum students. It is considering equalising the NMU teaching staff’s salary structure to private sector. He said establishment of new medical colleges was on the cards. Acting NMU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ijaz Masud demanded the minister for provision of video link committee room and renovation of Hayat Zafar auditorium.