Corruption eroding values: Punjab governor

FAISALABAD: Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has said corruption is eroding our social, economical and political values, and the government will not tolerate it any more.

While addressing the inaugural ceremony of Lahore-Abdul Hakim Motorway (M-3) and later on talking to the media at Jaranwala Interchange on Sunday, he said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, is striving to make the country prosperous and corruption-free.

The governor regretted that the previous governments did not bother to solve multiple problems of people during the last 70 years. He said corruption was rampant in the country, but now Prime Minister Imran Khan had resolved to eliminate corruption from the country and the government would not compromise on it.

He said Lahore-Abdul Hakeem Motorway was a gift of the PTI government and it would usher in an era of prosperity in the region. The governor said CM Buzdar was striving to improve the transportation and communication system in the province. He announced linking Okara, Syedwala, Jaranwala and Khurrianwala road with Canal Expressway and Sahianwala Interchange.

Later, talking to the media, the governor said that under the PTI manifesto, the government would provide maximum opportunities to common man and deprived segments of society. He said the PTI leaders had presented themselves for accountability and the opposition should also adopt the similar procedure for their accountability and return the plundered national wealth.

He said the opposition parties were criticising the government unnecessarily and levelling unfounded allegations against it. About supply of clean drinking water to people, the governor said the government was establishing the Punjab Pak Water Authority to resolve the issues.

APP adds: Governor Muhammad Sarwar said the people of Pakistan were suffering due to massive loot and plunder in the country. During the past 70 years, the successive governments failed to provide even basic amenities to people, he regretted. He said the people who have the experience to work with Prime Minister Imran Khan knew it well that he is a right person to introduce a culture of zero corruption in the country.

He said it had become a fashion to criticise the government departments in order to conceal the corrupt practices. He said that all institutions including the judiciary were working independently and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government never tried to influence any department.

He said the forum of parliament was available and the PTI government would welcome any recommendations to make amendments to the anti-corruption laws. He said Pakistan and China were enjoying cordial relations almost in all fields of economy, which will further grow in the coming years under visionary leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Responding to a question about Indian plans to isolate Pakistan, he said that international community accepted our narrative that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi could add fuel to fire just to win the elections.

He said that the PTI government successfully defended Pakistani narrative, which is based on principles. Our brave armed forces have also defended our geographical frontiers, he added. He said that 50 per cent population was suffering due to contaminated water consumption. "I have just attended the meeting of doctors who said that more than 70 per cent diseases are water-borne, which could be avoided only by providing clean drinking water to masses," he added.

MNAs Nawaz Sher Waseer, Sheikh Khurram, Amir Dogar, Mian Shafiq and others were also present. The governor was informed that completion of M-3 had considerably reduced travelling time between Lahore and Multan as compared to GT Road besides reducing fuel charges and vehicles operating cost.

Construction cost of the 230-km-long M-3 is Rs148.65 billion and it passes through districts of Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh and Khanewal, while cities and towns located along M-3 include Lahore, Sheikhupura, Mangtanwala, Nankana Sahib, Bucheki, Jaranwala, Syedwala, Tandalyanlwala, Samundri, Mamon Kanjan, Muridwala, Toba Tek Singh, Rajana, Kamalia, Peer Mahal, Shorkot and Kot Islam.

Designed speed is 120-km per hour on the six-lane motorway. Eight interchanges, three service areas, 46 bridges, 60 underpasses, 201 cattle creeps and 705 culverts are built on this motorway. On M-3, Intelligent Transport System (ITS) is installed due to which it may be termed a model motorway.